The past few weeks, our 1-year-old has been playing a fun new game. It’s called “Let’s wake up daddy at 4:30 a.m.”
With one eye open and the stealth of a ninja, I tiptoe down the stairs with my fully awake daughter (so as to not wake up big brother and mommy) to enjoy some breakfast in the dark. Then, it’s diaper changed, in the stroller, and out the door by 5 for a walk to our neighborhood park — once again, in the dark. We walk and we walk. Then we walk some more.
Now the sun is rising, birds chirp and critters emerge as we head home, while the rest of the world starts to stir.
That includes big brother, who tends to wake up a tad ornery. So the next part of our morning can be tricky as my wife and I work to get him fed and ready for school. This is all while managing his sister who, by now, is toddling through the house, climbing on furniture and desperately wanting to engage with brother. Things typically get real loud, real fast (at least once) before brother is off to school and sister is finally down for her nap.
Whew, we made it! Now it’s time for 10 minutes of staring at the wall in silence before hunkering down in my home office for my actual job.
Mornings can be hard, y’all. Anybody else relate? Whether it’s oversleeping, undersleeping, scrambling to find a lost shoe or just missing the school bus because you forgot to pack last night’s homework, parenting in the a.m. isn’t for sissies.
Still, how we start out our morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Here are some tips for creating a routine that sets up everybody for success:
- Get enough sleep. This is priority No. 1, since sleep helps children develop both mentally and physically. Tweak your nighttime routine to ditch distractions.
- Plan ahead the night before. Whether you’re packing lunches or letting the kids pick out tomorrow’s outfits, getting things ready will not only smooth out your family’s morning, you’ll probably sleep better, too.
- Carve out 15 minutes of “me time.” Try to wake up before your kids to collect your thoughts and enjoy a cup of coffee.
- Wake up on the right side of the bed. Kids tend to mimic their parents’ attitudes and behaviors. So let them hear and see you being positive and upbeat to start your day.
- Establish a routine. No need to reinvent the wheel every day. Eating breakfast, brushing teeth, getting dressed, packing up, a goodbye kiss — routines can be comforting for parents and kids alike.
A postscript about that little game called “Let’s wake up daddy at 4:30 a.m.”: It’s not all bad.
Watching the world wake up through the eyes of a 1-year-old on a brisk fall morning — the sights, the sounds, the smells — is actually pretty amazing. Good morning, baby girl! And thanks for reminding me.
