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A Good Morning Plan
Rated by 2 members
"Mama, may I please have Rice Krispies for breakfast?" Grace, 6, says as she sits at the breakfast bar.
"Sure," I say, as I fetch them from the pantry, pour them in the bowl and add the milk. She interrupts me, mid-stream.
"No, no. Chocolate milk, please," she says.
I add some chocolate syrup, mix it up just right and carry on a breakfast routine that I can only refer to as "service mode for Mama." Pour the juice, in the right cup, with the pink curly straw, retrieve dropped items, provide napkins, replenish juice -- all while keeping one eye on the clock.
Feeling like a waiter serving the food critic for the New York Times, I get flustered and knock a glass to the floor where it shatters. Typically no big deal, but when Grace harshly admonishes me with,"Mama, you really need to be more careful. Luke could cut his foot!"
I lost it.
Let's just say that I firmly, and loudly, let Grace know how unappreciated her bossiness was. To which she responded innocently, her eyes shimmering with tears, "Mama, I'm sorry."
I was crushed. And it was then that I realized it was I who owed her the apology -- not only for the Joan Crawford moment I'd just indulged in -- but for directing my frustration at her when all she was doing was playing a part I'd assigned.
We had begun first grade strong -- going to bed early, allowing time for a well-paced morning, planning well the night before. But I'd gotten lazy and given in to the age-old, "It's faster if I just do it myself" mentality which is the slippery parenting slope that never leads to a soft landing.
With Grace off to school, I tried to unburden the morning guilt by confessing to some friends and asking for help. Buoyed by their empathy and great suggestions, I resolved to get back to basics and type up a "Good Morning Plan."
Ours looks like this:
I still struggle with not wanting to jump in and speed things up occasionally, and there's often a spill to clean up. But messy floors are far easier to clean up than tears and messy morning drama.
Member Comments On…
A Good Morning Plan
This was a good dose of common sense for me. I have a middle-schooler and am a little paranoid about getting everything together in a timely manner without pulling my own Joan Crawford (thankful I'm not the only one). Working full time and being a single mom is a bit of a juggling act. So thank you for these great ideas.
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mlshines,
Don't worry, it's absolutely fine to reference another site here ... that's part of what Dream Team is about. Thanks for sharing the tip!
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Sorry not sure about referencing another website, I called help line with only voice mail. I am not sure how to delete or what to do now.
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I have 6 children, 4 at home, with 3 in second grade and under. I discovered a website that helped my mornings. It is www.workingmom.com On this website is a checklist with pictures and words. These are geared for Pre-K to second grade. My kids like it. I have also started using the alarm clock. Music is more fun to wake up to than Mom.
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Thanks for sharing - many very helpful items shared forward in several of the other comments too! The Pros and the Cons...we are all human it seems and parenting is happily always 24/7/365! In our home, we also have a regular routine but there is always room for improvement. My 9 year old Daughter (going on 10 later this month) is now very independent with her morning-prep, but it was not always that way and (and in fact I almost miss not having to help her with getting ready in the morning).
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I strongly agree with alenkow. Although we do have a night before and morning routine in place, I've been seeing a steady increase in rude, demanding, and generally uncooperative behavior all around (but especially school mornings) in my five year old as the school year has progressed. She is pushing her boundaries HARD. Admittedly, I have "lost it" and yelled several times; but more often I have been able to keep my cool while still letting her know that her behavior is disrespectful and unacceptable. Sometimes she apologizes and sometimes she moves on to full blown tantrum; but as long as I have behaved calmly and appropriately (not yelling and as kind as possible), I think it is more important for her to learn to behave kindly and respectfully than to have every morning tear free.We do kiss goodbye every morning, whether it was smooth or rough.
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For those extra hurried mornings, when all the planning in the world does not work, my kids get what they believe is an extra special treat. Its called an Erin Baker's Breakfast Cookie. Its really an organic granola bar made with all goods things for you like rolled oats. Its a healthy quick breakfast or snack and has saved us so many times when the bus is coming any minute and there is no time for cereal. My kids prefer the chocolate (which has very little chocolate) but the flavors are all awesome!
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It's a BUSY morning! As a mom of three! An 8 year old, 6 year old, and a 3 year old! Also I watch other children in my home who I also get ready for school! Gotta have a ROUTINE!! Every night make sure homework's done and bookbags ready for the next day and always pick out the clothes the night before, and set alarm clocks! In the morning the alarms go off and you get dressed before even coming downstairs! Once dressed it's time for breakfast! Which varies but usually waffles and fruit! Clean up your place and off to brush teeth and hair then shoes, coats, and get on the bus by 7:30am!
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Sorry about the typo - no one! not no wone!
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Having an almost 20 yr old, I learned long ago to put the cereal, bowls and cups, all plastic of course down low! No wone told me though, I just had to figure it out on my own, no internet back then! I consider that 1 step one of the best parenting tricks I ever did! Now as a h-school family w/4 school aged children, it is a life saver or at least a morning saver!
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