Why can't I cope in the morning?

Log in / Sign Up

List of Forums + New Post Recipe Box Usergroups Following My Posts Bookmarks

Private Messages Rules New User Guide FAQ Advertise Contact Us

Forum -> Parenting our children

View latest: 24h 48h 72h

amother

Today at 6:30 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 6:32 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 7:54 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 7:59 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 8:18 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 8:27 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 9:39 am

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 10:07 am

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 10:24 am

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 10:27 am

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 10:53 am

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 11:02 am

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 11:04 am

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 11:22 am

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

imaima

Today at 11:29 am

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.

amother

Lawngreen

Today at 12:26 pm

Bags shoes and coats are prepped night before. Clothes are laid out at edge of their bed night before. You get up 30 min before so ur dressed and rdy to wake them and focus on getting them out in time. Breakfast should be easy like toast with butter, squeeze yogurt, cereal and milk, healthy muffins. Eggs is probably too hard and time consuming for you right now..

Rachel Shira

Today at 12:32 pm

I try to do bags the night before but usually end up leaving some for the morning. I wake up before them and get myself dressed. We are out the door before 8:15 and kids wake up at 7. First thing the kids do is get dressed, that way if that’s allow they get done at least they can take a breakfast to go. We have it down to a good routine so it works pretty well.

Page 1 of 1