Why can't I cope in the morning?

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Forum -> Parenting our children

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amother

Today at 9:30 am

I have 4 little kids. The oldest is 6.
No matter what I do I find that the morning is always craziness. The kids need me to dress them, they need to eat, make hair, always kvetchy, they need to be asked 100 times to do anything....
My son is lately missing the bus and I feel like the biggest failure.
How do all you mothers get your whole brood ready in time?
What time do you get up and what time does your first bus come?
How do you make it work?
Also I find it really hard being on a high floor in a building because getting down alone takes so much time and you gotta be early because "running out the door" takes a while.

amother

Cantaloupe

Today at 9:32 am

To me getting up before them is the key to being on top of the game. If I get up with them or a minute letter, I lost it and I'm just being dragged along.

amother

Heather

Today at 10:54 am

Wake up 20 min earlier. Those extra 20 min of sleep won’t help as much as 20 min of calm in the morning will.

gam_zu_ltovah

Today at 10:59 am

The key is to do as much as possible the night before. Pick out everyone's clothes, make lunches, etc. And bonus if breakfast is something they can eat on the go.

amother

Lightgreen

Today at 11:18 am

I agree with all of the above suggestions. Been a while since my kids were that little, but yeah, I had to prep as much as possible the night before to make things manageable. And I actually had to get up 45 minutes earlier because I needed that time to myself, not just to get dressed but to sit quietly with a cup of coffee and become human before I had to go into the role of mommy.

It's not like it's going to be a picnic either way. But it helps a lot.

amother

Mulberry

Today at 11:27 am

Make sure basics are in a set location before bed including shoes. If you haven't already, install hooks for coats and bags. When children are little organization is a must. As they get older they will become independent. My 8 year old dresses himself and pours himself cereal. Also, if possible, declutter if needed.

momma 17

Today at 12:39 pm

Try to prepare as much as you can the night before and try to have easy on the go options for breakfast
Cereal in a cup
Squeeze yogurt
You can make french toast or pancakes at night and reheat in the microwave.
Lay out clothing and have shoes,coats yarmulkas etc. prepared.
Hatzlacha!!

amother

Wisteria

Today at 1:07 pm

You have 4 little kids. Ya mornings are hectic no matter what. Dressing feeding hair etc its moms job. Its ok to put clothing on the kid. Dont take it personally allowing yourself to feel like a failure. But do figure out how to catch the bus on time or be happy transporting child often.

amother

Sand

Today at 1:24 pm

amother Cantaloupe wrote:

To me getting up before them is the key to being on top of the game. If I get up with them or a minute letter, I lost it and I'm just being dragged along.

This is perfect

amother

Waterlily

Today at 1:27 pm

I get up before my kids and give myself at least an hour & 15 minutes to get everyone ready & out the door. I cannot deal with rushed stressed mornings.

amother

Mintgreen

Today at 1:53 pm

amother OP wrote:

It's a really hard stage! You have 4 little people to get ready and out the door and they all need your hands on help! I think mornings are hard for most people, and you are at a hard stage. No use beating yourself up, let's just try to figure out how to make it easier.

When do your kids wake up? When does the first bus come? When do they go to sleep?

When do you go to sleep & wake up? Are you more a night or morning person?

What is the biggest struggle?
Is there anything that your kids can do on their own, or start to learn to do on their own?

amother

Blushpink

Today at 2:02 pm

Another idea is to wake them staggered. so if Ur 4 year old can be woken 15 min earlier, time alone with u, dress etc , sit him down with some toys, or pour his cereal and go to others. or split them wake 2, then 2.
another way is to wake baby and deal with him first and get him fed changed and playing happily then do others (this is what I used to do, I wld nurse a baby early, change and dress then do others)
whatever way u do it, it's a hard stage

Refine

Today at 2:04 pm

Make a getting dressed chart.
Lay their clothes out the nigh before and try to make sure they get dressed first thing because if they start playing... Fuhgettaboutit

amother

Blonde

Today at 2:22 pm

What is your husband's schedule? Can he help out a bit in the morning?

imaima

Today at 2:29 pm

All of that.
Wake up before them and get you ready
Wake them staggered so they are not all up at the same time.
Prepare clothes snacks breakfast the night before
Declutter and streamline the entrance area so putting on coats and shoes is easier.

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