A month into the new school year and we are settling into our new morning routine. Caitlyn’s school starts at 07h30 (thirty minutes earlier).
That means everyone is out the door at 07h00 ish.
We have our fair share of morning drama, but our morning routine helps.
Like when my husband decides that a Monday morning is a good time for a haircut! Yip, a DIY haircut on a Monday morning.
Never mind that we all have to be out the house by 07h00!
Our morning routine is not perfect, but we get where we need to be on time.
Living our new early morning routine, also had an impact on my coming home time. Which is a huge win! Leaving work on time has always been a real struggle as a working mother.
As I get to work a little while before the work day starts, I have no issue completing my priorities at work and leaving on time (most days!).
[bctt tweet=”We have our fair share of morning drama. Here is how we speed up our family’s morning routine” username=”cherralle_”]
5 Things That Speed Up Our Family’s Morning Routine
1. We get up much earlier as school starts at 07h30am
Firstly, since when does school start at 07h30 a.m?
In my days it was 08h00 a.m.
Anyway, my husband does the drop-off, which means they must leave the house by latest 07h00am. By default, we all wake up a little earlier.
Getting up earlier helps.
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2. School clothes are taken out the night before
My daughter’s school clothes are taken out the night before.
As she and Ava share a room, we cannot afford to have drama in their bedroom. So we pack it in the ‘study’ (aka the room of requirement*).
*any Harry Potter fans got that reference?
And no looking for a swimming kit in the morning. If it’s swimming, we pack the bag the day before.
We do have our morning issues, but we get it right most of the time and that is all right with me.
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3. School lunch is kept very simple
I had to park my lofty ideals of home-made, well-balanced school lunches for Caitlyn.
What started out as homemade mini boboties is now a sandwich.
Lunch consists out of a sandwich of whatever there is with fruit, yogurt, and snacks such as biltong, etc.
4. We allow some TV
If Caitlyn is ready before its time to leave, she may watch tv.
If she asked to watch TV, we would let her. If I need to do her hair, the TV goes on so that she can sit still.
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5. I prep the ‘day’s meals’ in the morning
I prepare the children’s food for the day. Sometimes I have meals prepared the day before or there are frozen meals which were made on the weekend.
I prepare lunch and supper for both girls (with snacks in between) and leave the day’s ‘menu’ with our helper.
Caitlyn has a school lunch plus a second (proper) lunch when she comes from school.
The girls eat dinner together at about 17h00, and I get home by 17h30 (normally). I do miss supper with them.
Long story short, but based on our family’s routine, they must eat by 17h00.
Otherwise, everything runs super late, and the whole house is grumpy (by the entire house I mean me).
When I get home, I focus on bath time and catching up with them on the day. Once they are down, my husband I will eat, and catch up on what we need to do.
The new morning routine seems to be working for our family (for now).
Here are 5 tips to help you speed up your morning routine
1. Any activities you can do the night before, do them the night before! Simple. Whether it is making sandwiches, taking out clothes. Every little bit helps!
2. Build in extra time for mishaps! Like when we discover there is no bread and someone has to pop out to the garage to buy a loaf.
3. Do you want to drink a cup of coffee before the day starts, or do you want little extra time to do your make up? Build in extra time for your little luxuries.
4. Take it easy. Sometimes when we lose our cool, it delays the process even further.
5. Take it easy on weekends. Throw routine out of the window on weekends and just be!
Any tips that help you speed up your mornings?