The Morning Routines of Four Everyday Moms

Updated: Aug. 20, 2015

Originally Published: Nov. 20, 2014

A recent article from Forbes showcased the morning rituals of twelve prominent women in leadership. Their routines included snippets like: “4:45 AM: Rise and enjoy a bowl of quinoa cereal before indulging in an hour of intense ashtanga yoga,” or “6:30 AM: Alarm rings. No snooze! Slip into cozy sweatpants and clogs.” Most of these successful women savor luxuries such as warm coffee, uninterrupted yoga sessions, and nutritious quinoa smoothies to kickstart their day.

While the article aims to illustrate how structured routines can foster success, the reality for many moms is strikingly different. For us, mornings often look less like those featured in Forbes and more like this:

Amy Thompson, Freelance Writer and Mom of Two

6:00 AM: Wake up to the sound of my phone alarm. Attempt to cultivate a peaceful mindset for the day ahead. Just kidding—curse the alarm for being too loud and for waking the kids!
6:30 AM: Shuffle to the shower—on good days, that is. Some days, showering is a luxury I just can’t afford. Dress in whatever sweatpants I can find, likely from a discount store.
7:00 AM: Head downstairs to let the dogs out, only to step in a puddle of… pee. Clean up the mess, curse my pets, and prepare the kids’ breakfast. Spoiler alert: it’s not an organic kale smoothie; it’s good old cereal with a banana.
7:15 AM: Check backpacks for the twins’ extra underwear. Surprise! There’s a plastic toy instead. Dash upstairs to rescue the situation—this counts as exercise, right?
7:30 AM: Time to wake the twins for preschool. Repeat everything twice and remind them to eat. “You have one job: eat your cereal!” Supervise teeth brushing while my husband brings down our toddler.
8:15 AM: Finally, get everyone into their car seats, breaking up countless sibling squabbles along the way. Chug a cup of coffee on the drive, realizing once again that I forgot to eat breakfast. And hey, I’m still in my slippers!

Sarah Mitchell, New Mom with a Newborn

4:30 AM: Baby cries. Fumble in the dark to pop the pacifier back in, only for it to fall out multiple times. Ponder if tape could help.
5:00 AM: Feed the baby while mentally drafting a business plan for a coffee delivery service for new moms. Make a mental note to treat myself to a donut today.
5:30 AM: Baby is still wide awake. Eyeing me curiously while I change her diaper, it’s clear she’s ready to greet the day. Too bad it’s not with coffee or donuts!
6:30 AM: Hand baby over to her well-rested dad while he leisurely enjoys breakfast, completely unaware of my struggles.
7:00 AM: Take a speedy shower, convinced I hear the baby crying—but it’s just my sleep-deprived imagination. Dress in my husband’s oversized sweatshirt and whatever pants I can find.
7:15 AM: Celebrate being dressed while realizing the baby is still in milk-covered clothes. Choose a cute outfit for her because one of us needs to look good today.
7:30 AM: Husband leaves for work, asking me to do four things today. I promptly forget them all in my donut haze.
8:15 AM: Pack essentials into the diaper bag for our exciting journey from the bedroom to the living room. Find a leftover donut and declare, “Carpe diem!”

Jess Carter, Full-Time Working Mom

6:00 AM: Alarm blares. Hit snooze and pull the covers back over my head.
6:30 AM: Alarm rings again. Finally, I roll out of bed and slip into my most comfortable sweatpants.
7:00 AM: Sit down for breakfast with my two-year-old. As I sneak peeks at Facebook, she forgets how to use her fork.
7:15 AM: Convince my toddler to get ready while she stands at the base of the stairs, declaring her feet are too big to climb. After some coaxing, we finally make it to the bathroom where I read “Everyone Poops” for the millionth time.
7:30 AM: Get her dressed while negotiating with her about appropriate clothing choices. I discover that bribery works wonders!
7:45 AM: Navigate the shoe dilemma—she insists her shoes are “too big!” Get her into the car, blow kisses to my family, and return inside to tackle work.
2:30 PM: Finally take a breather for lunch and a well-deserved shower.

Linda Foster, Stay-at-Home Mom

6:00 AM: My kids jump into bed, fighting over who gets to snuggle closer to Dad. He escapes to the shower, leaving me to deal with the chaos.
6:30 AM: Get out of bed, donning my decade-old sweatpants with holes. Head to the kitchen for coffee (whatever was on sale) and start preparing breakfast. By “breakfast,” I mean sugary cereal that might as well be candy.
7:00 AM: Contemplate a morning routine where I wake up before everyone else and enjoy quiet moments. Then I laugh at the absurdity of it and clean Cookie Crisp out of the cat food bowl.
7:15 AM: Kids reject cereal and ask for something else. I whip up a green smoothie, only to have them declare, “Eww, it looks like poop!” Hand out gummy vitamins instead.
7:30 AM: Tackle the mountain of dishes while trying to convince the kids to eat.
8:00 AM: Get everyone dressed, which involves a lot of chasing and dodging. Realize reasonable discussions with a toddler are pointless.
8:15 AM: Finally dressed and sipping cold coffee, I begin the countdown to bedtime.

Regardless of how your morning unfolds, know that you’re not alone. Many moms find themselves dreaming of hot coffee and peaceful mornings while wearing slippers and mismatched clothes. For more insights on pregnancy and home insemination, check out this informative resource.

Summary

This article provides an entertaining glimpse into the morning routines of four everyday moms, highlighting the amusing chaos that unfolds as they navigate their mornings. Unlike the polished routines of high-powered women featured in Forbes, these mothers’ mornings are filled with unexpected challenges, such as stubborn toddlers and messy breakfast preparations. Regardless of the differences, they share a common bond of striving for normalcy amid the delightful chaos of motherhood.