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Pinterest Can’t Rescue Me from the Chaos of Our Morning Routine
I wish I could share some brilliant strategies for making weekday mornings a breeze, but let’s be real: I’m the exact person those tips are intended to help. You know the type—bleary-eyed, desperately trying to locate something (anything) decent for my kids to wear while battling a mountain of clean but wrinkled clothes. I’m the one who suddenly remembers we’re running late, realizing that lunch hasn’t been packed and at least one child is barefoot. My mornings are less “well-oiled machine” and more “why can’t I keep it together?”
I’ve attempted to tame the chaos of our morning routine. I’m a frequent Pinterest explorer, pinning whatever “life hacks” I stumble upon right alongside those lofty goals of building patio furniture from reclaimed wood pallets. Occasionally, I find a tip that works—at least for a brief moment, as long as I have the energy to keep it up. But then reality hits.
Morning Checklists
Take morning checklists, for example. The idea of giving my kids a list of tasks to tackle before school, with boxes to tick off, sounds fantastic. Initially, it went well. Each day, I’d hand my kids a neatly written list with tasks like “brush teeth” and “eat breakfast.” But soon, this turned into a competition, with the boys racing to finish their lists, inevitably leading to squabbles over who was faster.
Let’s be honest: Checklists are a lot of work. I wasted 15 precious minutes the night before creating individual lists tailored to each child’s morning tasks. Those 15 minutes could have been spent indulging in a bowl of ice cream while binge-watching reality TV (or catching up on the news and doing yoga—yeah, totally).
Preparing Breakfasts in Advance
I also tried getting ahead by preparing breakfasts in advance. I envisioned a future filled with nutritious, homemade meals like “overnight refrigerator oatmeal” and “bacon and egg frittatas.” No more sugary store-bought junk! I was ready to provide my family with wholesome food and save some time. Unfortunately, my kids—who would eat a frozen waffle straight from the freezer—turned their noses up at my gourmet efforts. Despite my strict “eat it or go hungry” rule, they were doing more starving than eating, and I found myself packing on the pounds from sampling four breakfasts a day. So back to basics it was: Step one, pour cereal. Step two, pour milk.
Letting Kids Choose Their Outfits
I thought maybe giving the kids a bit more independence in choosing their outfits would help speed things up. This might work if they had a sense of style, but my elementary-aged kids definitely do not. When I told them they could choose their clothes, I didn’t expect one to emerge in mismatched plaid while another flaunted a holey Spiderman shirt and cargo pants that were two sizes too small. I ended up hunting for acceptable outfits last minute, which is essentially what I do every morning anyway—so no time saved there.
No matter what I try—no matter how ambitious my intentions or how many Pinterest boards I create—I’ve come to accept that mornings in our house will always be a chaotic mess. They might not run smoothly, but at least the kids make it to school without looking like they got dressed in the dark. I just remind myself that the frozen waffle box boasts “made with 8 grams of whole grain” and “good source of fiber.” As I scramble to find their shoes and my keys, I tell myself, “Just brush your teeth extra well tonight.” Once they’re off to school, I finally catch my breath—until the next morning’s madness rolls around, that is.
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In summary, mornings in my house are a whirlwind of chaos, despite my attempts to impose order. Whether it’s checklists, make-ahead breakfasts, or allowing the kids to pick their outfits, nothing seems to work long-term. But as long as the kids make it to school clothed and fed (if only just barely), I suppose I’ll call it a win—until the next day begins anew.