I realized shortly after my daughter, Avery was born just how important morning routines can be. I was a new Mom and I was used to just getting myself up and out of the house. When you add a 6lb tiny human to your life, my oh my how things change! It is so much more than remembering to grab the diaper bag. First of all someone has to stock that bag with everything you could ever need in a day, and YES that is you, Mommy!
I learned early on to pack the bags the night before, but sure enough I always forgot something. Taking your life and adding any significant change to your daily responsibilities or routines can throw you off like nothing else. Suddenly you are ill-equipped, forgetful, and feeling like you are loosing control.
It is not just having a baby, for me it was with any new transition. Going back to work, adding in a second child (God, help me now there is 3 of us to get out the door!) Avery starting school, now there are lunches to pack and all of her gear that needs to go with her, anything that changes our timing or usual routine throws me off.
I am a huge "list maker" so I used that to my advantage. I prepared a list of everything I needed to do or take with us when we left and taped it by the front door. This helped tremendously until the new routine became a habit. I have read several times that you have to do an action 20+ times before it becomes a habit, this is HARD and I find that reminder lists help me and my family make these transitions.
We are in a good place at the moment, Avery in school, Sebastian in daycare. I pack both of their backpacks, my work bag, and our "car/travel" bag (I can explain that in another post) and put them by the front door in the evening. I have our lunch kits on the counter, anything not refrigerated goes in them the night before, then I finish them off in the morning.
On the weekend while folding our laundry I pick 7 outfits for each kid and put them on a shelf on our main level (this is where our bathroom is as well) Each morning I just grab the next outfit on the pile.
I learned early on to pack the bags the night before, but sure enough I always forgot something. Taking your life and adding any significant change to your daily responsibilities or routines can throw you off like nothing else. Suddenly you are ill-equipped, forgetful, and feeling like you are loosing control.
It is not just having a baby, for me it was with any new transition. Going back to work, adding in a second child (God, help me now there is 3 of us to get out the door!) Avery starting school, now there are lunches to pack and all of her gear that needs to go with her, anything that changes our timing or usual routine throws me off.
I am a huge "list maker" so I used that to my advantage. I prepared a list of everything I needed to do or take with us when we left and taped it by the front door. This helped tremendously until the new routine became a habit. I have read several times that you have to do an action 20+ times before it becomes a habit, this is HARD and I find that reminder lists help me and my family make these transitions.
We are in a good place at the moment, Avery in school, Sebastian in daycare. I pack both of their backpacks, my work bag, and our "car/travel" bag (I can explain that in another post) and put them by the front door in the evening. I have our lunch kits on the counter, anything not refrigerated goes in them the night before, then I finish them off in the morning.
On the weekend while folding our laundry I pick 7 outfits for each kid and put them on a shelf on our main level (this is where our bathroom is as well) Each morning I just grab the next outfit on the pile.
Avery is 6 and just fine with this, she is very much old enough to pick out her own clothes. I do this for ME and my sanity. It is hard enough to stay on track in the morning, if I had her pick out her own clothes we would be a half hour late everyday. This may not work next year, but I am going to take advantage of it for as long as I can.
The thing to remember is that what works today may not work tomorrow. Routines and organization are forever changing, put systems in place that work for you today. Enjoy it.....
The thing to remember is that what works today may not work tomorrow. Routines and organization are forever changing, put systems in place that work for you today. Enjoy it.....
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