Fun in the mornings

I remember not so long ago, when mornings were very different to how they are now. I remember getting up around 8, feeding my little Z weetabix whilst watching morning TV, putting him down for a nap around 9.30 and having a blissful half an hour to get myself ready for the day with no interruptions. These days my morning starts around 3 am when H comes into our bed and spends the next 3-4 hours kicking me in the back, asking me to stroke her arm and wondering loudly if it’s breakfast time yet. I finally relent sometime between 6.30 and 7 am when I hear Z’s oboe booming out of his room and attempt to make breakfast for three and packed lunches for 2 in record time. At this point I consider the morning a success if I manage to feed everyone without anything being spilled, and I’ve had a sip of tea. #MorningWin1

The next stage is getting everyone dressed and teeth cleaned.  I consider this a success if everyone has clean clothes available and manages to clean their teeth without dribbling down their beautifully ironed uniform. #MorningWin2

Stage 3 is hair for the girls. If I’m very luckily we remembered to brush well enough the night before for H’s hair not to be a big tangled mess, and S asks for a pony tail not plaits. #MorningWin3

Stage 4 is operation get me ready. I have the fastest shower you can imagine, brush and straighten my hair and apply a very quick layer of foundation to make me look a bit less scary. This stage is a winner if I manage all that without hearing screams from the girls room and I actually have clean and ironed clothes that vaguely resemble an outfit. #MorningWin4 

If at this point the girls haven’t ruined their beautifully plaited hair by practising forward rolls, that’s another quick win. #MorningWin5

I then ask the kids to put shoes and coats on and collect their bits, if we make it to the car on time without forgetting anything that’s a big win. #MorningWin6

We drive half way to school park up and scoot the rest of the way. If we make it without anyone falling over or leaving anything in the car that’s another win #MorningWin7 On a bad day we park nearer school, if we manage to find a decent parking spot, it cheers me up for the rest of the day. #MorningWin8

Waving goodbye to happy children, without forgetting lunch, mufti or other essential items. #MorningWin9 Luckily for forgetful old me, my 6 year old is rather inventive and can apparently make most missing items with a cardboard box.

Coming home to a cup of tea and breakfast. #MorningWin10

My advice to those of you without school age children is to enjoy every last second of your relaxing mornings, cause once children start school, things are never quite the same.

Belvita kindly sent me some of their new range to try out, they are perfect for a quick mini breakfast to keep me going till I get back from school, or to give the kid’s as a top up if they don’t eat their breakfast for some reason or even as a quick snack mid morning.  It means we never skip breakfast as there’s always an alternative in the cupboard and let’s face it we all have days when there just isn’t enough time to sit and eat a bowl of cereal. Belvita Breakfast Biscuits are clinically provne to regularly and continuously release carbohydrates over 4 hours which is great for keeping hunger pangs at bay. I love that they’re individually wrapped so you can take out and about easily. My children are ALWAYS asking for food, so I keep a pack of three in my bag for emergencies.

The new crunchy choc chip flavour is my favourite, but the apricot and hazlenut flavours are pretty good too.

 

This post is an entry for #MorningWin Linky Challenge sponsored by belVita Breakfast. Learn more at http://bit.ly/belVitaUK”