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”
Mornings can be so challenging. I loved your pictures. Commenting for myself and on behalf of BritMums and thanking you for taking part.
My second just started school, so I’ve got this morning thing SORTED by now! I’m quite the pro! I won’t pretend I don’t love the new hot lunches at school mind. That saves me about 15 minutes a morning! That said, if anyone knows how to get kids to put their shoes on without having to ask 3 times, let me know! xx
wow , your morning sounds exhausting! There’s a lot to be said for having a larger age gap between no.2 & no.3, which means Jack gets fed whilst I’m still in bed!
Such a busy morning for you!
I’m always very envious of my friends who’s children lay in and have to be woken up in order to get up for school… my two are up by 7am at the latest.
It all changes so quickly doesn’t it. I make my boys brush their teeth before getting dressed – means no toothpaste down their clothes.
Thank you! Just like our house 🙂 I like the fall back option, may have to stock up. There is only so many times you can ask a 5 yo what cereal he wants right?
I was laughing along and nodding my head to each step of this post. I remember those lazy days before the school runs started. We have a pretty good routine going now but bearing in mind LB is in Year 2 it’s taken me a while to get there. We now have a ‘ready for school’ chart where the children have to complete certain tasks to be ready for school before they are allowed to watch TV or do their other chosen activity and so far it seems to be working well. I often thank my lucky stars that I only have one ‘girls’ hair to do as just getting hers done drives me potty!! Belvita has long been my saviour in a morning as I just can’t leave the house without something to keep me going.
you win! I smiled throughout reading this and nodded in agreement. What a lovely post.
You win! I have to say I’ve got mornings pretty much nailed now but it’s taken a long time to get there
Don’t scare me, Emma. I’m still living in the blissful bubble of having relaxed mornings with Amy. We don’t leave the bed before 8am, then cuddle on the sofa before having breakfast and getting ready for the day. I can’t even imagine having her all dressed and ready for school by 8am…
I can totally relate.And when the weekends come they are before 6 and have helped themselves to breakfast.I’m thankful that my 3 are old enough (6,9 and 12) to do everything themselves except for the whole hair faffing business.