Take the Chaos Out of Busy School Mornings

Our kids started school two years ago and I figured with the hour we had between the kids waking up and getting out the door, left plenty of time for everything that needed to be done so I didn’t prep for anything. I foolishly thought an hour was enough time for the kids to get up, go to the bathroom, change, do their hair, brush their teeth, eat, get on shoes and for me to make everyone breakfast, make their lunches and grab some coffee. I don’t know what rock I was living under, but boy was I wrong and completely unprepared!

I foolishly thought an hour was enough time for the kids to get up, go to the bathroom, change, do their hair, brush their teeth, eat, get on shoes and for me to make everyone breakfast, make their lunches and grab some coffee for myself. I don’t know what rock I was living under, but boy was I wrong!

I can gladly say that we’ve managed to better utilize our nights before to prepare for the morning and will a little preparation have made the mornings much easier. So much so, that we all sit down for breakfast together as a family and they even have time to play together until we pack up and get in the car.

It’s a complete 180 from where we started and I wanted to share with you how we’ve remade our mornings to be peaceful and enjoyable instead of rushed and chaotic.

 

 

PREP LUNCHES

• Pack everyone’s lunches the night before. Be sure to pack food items that can stay overnight without getting mushy (tuna sandwiches might have to wait for the morning). Fill up water bottles and put everything in the fridge so your kids can easily grab them, throw them in their backpacks and be on their way in the morning. 
• I even have a stack of lunch notes cut out and waiting in the kitchen, so I can scribble a quick note on them and throw them in lunch boxes.

• Download and Print Your own Lunchbox Notes

 

MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST

• I like to pre-made easy breakfasts that can be thrown in the toaster or warmed up in the microwave and don’t require either parent to roll up their sleeves and make everything from scratch.
• On Sundays, we prep breakfast and make waffles and pancakes that can be frozen and then easily thrown in the toaster or microwave. Our kids love egg, bacon, cheese and vegetable muffins. We pre-make these (about 3-4 dozen at a time) and they warm up quick and easy in the microwave.
• Muffins are also great to make on Sundays and have on hand for busy school mornings.
• Get the coffee machine ready the night before so it’s already programmed to turn on or you just have to hit the “on” bottom to start it.

 

READY-TO-GO OUTFITS

• Help your kids set out their clothes for school the night before this way, there is no debate about picking out outfits and crying about not being able to find someone they like to wear. 
• I love these organizers so the kids can pick out outfits for the entire week and all they have to do is grab and put them on. You’ll never have to search for a missing sock again since the full outfits are complete and ready to go!
• Be sure to check the wear for the week when you and the kids are picking out clothes.

 

DON’T PUT THINGS OFF UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING 

• Oftentimes, it’s the little things that you forgot to do the night before that can throw your mornings into a full tailspin. Be sure to take the time, the night before to sign paperwork, permission slips, wash something for the next day, write a note or clean up.
• Thinking that you’ll “just do it in the morning,” when your mornings are already tight on time, will add to the chaos and can be stressful.

 

DEDICATED SHOE & BACKPACK STATION
Having a dedicated shoe, sweater/jacket and backpack station is a GAME-CHANGER in our house! We have a shoe/jacket/backpack system in the garage so the kids keep all their shoes in several bins, one sweater and one jacket on the hooks, and their backpack. Everything is one spot and the kids are in the habit of taking off their shoes at this spot before going in the house, putting on their shoes and sweaters before we jump in the car and nothing gets dragged around the house so we’re never running around trying to find pairs of shoes.

We have a shoe/jacket/backpack system in the garage so the kids keep all their shoes in several bins, one sweater and one jacket on the hooks, as well as their backpack. Everything is one spot and never goes into the house so we are never in the situation of running around, trying to find a missing shoe or a sweater that got dropped in the wrong spot. and the kids are in the habit of taking off their shoes at this spot before going in the house, putting on their shoes and sweaters before we jump in the car and nothing gets dragged around the house so we’re never running around trying to find pairs of shoes.

The kids are in the habit of taking off their shoes at this spot in the garage before going in the house. Its also the last stop – putting on their shoes, jackets and grabbing their backpack – before we jump in the car to head to school. putting on their shoes and sweaters before we jump in the car and nothing gets dragged around the house so we’re never running around trying to find pairs of shoes.

 

Every morning we’re on the clock to get three kids changed, fed, teeth brushed, shoes tied and out the door on time. If I come downstairs and things are straightened out and the day is prepped for, we actually have time to enjoy the morning and believe it or not, our family sits down to have breakfast together because of these simple steps. We’re not rushing around and we’re not racing against the clock.

The alternative is telling the kids over and over to eat, eat faster, get dressed, find their shoes, brush their hair, and so on. I know I don’t want to be a drill sergeant to my kids and I bet you don’t either. Preparing for the morning will get you started on the right foot. 

 
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