Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The mornings


The alarm goes off around 06.40am and I stretch out and get out of bed. The house is chilly and I put on my flannel pyjamas to stay warm.

I go downstairs and turn on the star light in the living room. I look outside my kitchen window and see the cows while listening to the melody of their cow bells. I put the kettle on, take out my favorite cup to serve myself some tea. Often I empty the dishwasher or hang a load of laundry like a mother does... Work starts early for us women...

07.00am I make sure that Nelly Bo (12) is up. She sets her own alarm clock since a couple of years. She is good like that. Then I open the door to Emmy Bo's (6) room and sing "Good morning, good moooorning" in the softest way I can. I open up her shutters and grab her tiny foot that sticks out underneath the blanket and quilt on top. She stretches out like a cat and I rub her back for a moment before she reaches out her hands towards me to pull her up. I can still carry her and happily I carry her downstairs and get that big morning cuddle at the same time. She sits down next to Charlie - the cat - who quickly cuddles up next to her and start sounding like a lawn mower...

I turn the TV on, the kids favorite cartoon channel, and then a go upstairs to fetch Luca Bo (9). Same same but different. I sing and open the shutters, look at the Alps as we can see them best from his windows. I can see the sun coming up behind the mountain tops. It is beautiful. Luca Bo sleeps deep. He always does. I shake him gently and start rubbing his back. He is curled up like a ball, sometimes he is on the diagonal, sometimes I find him upside down in the bed. He moves around a lot in his sleep. I tell him that today he is going carting with his best friend on his birthday party. That makes him come alive. Then I ask him to jump up on my back to show him the beautiful mountains. And so he does. It is just a question of time before I can't hold his weight anymore, but this is how we have done it for years now and still do. We look at the mountains together and he ooohs and aaaahs as I expect him to do. So sweet. He knows how to make his Mama happy.

We walk downstairs and now all kids are cuddled up in throws and blankets in our big sofa watching cartoons. I take a moment to have my tea, check some emails and visit a favorite blog or two.

07.30am the TV is turned off and everyone sits down for breakfast. This is a noisy time. Cupboard doors open and close as well as drawers. Cereal, bowls, milk, toast, jam, butter, spoons, cups, juice... In fifteen minutes breakfast is over and all kids go upstairs to get dressed, brush teeth and get ready. I check all school bags, prepare snacks for everyone and sign all papers that needs to be signed. Read agendas and comments from the teachers. I know, I should really do this the evening before but somehow I never have the energy to do this in the evening.

08.15am Luca Bo leaves to go to school, soon followed by Nelly Bo who walks together with her little sister Emmy Bo. Often our neighbour comes along as well if the schedule is right. And now the house turns silent. I tidy up the mess in the kitchen and get ready for the gym. And 5 minutes later I am off too to do my Cross Fit class.

Most mornings are pretty smooth like this but every now and then we have someone throwing a tantrum somewhere. Being tired or woken up in the wrong way, or even falling asleep angry the night before, can easily turn into a big battlefield in the morning routine.

Having breakfast battle - the bagels are all gone and normal toast will do and I can't make you pancake for breakfast on a normal Wednesday....
Packing the desired snack battle - if we don't have muffins for a snack you will have to do with a package of Darvida crackers or a fruit.
Putting on the right clothes battle - not shorts when it is 10C˙outside and strong winds... Not ballerina shoes when the rain is pouring down from the sky... And if it is really cold and nasty you just have to where a hat - even when you want to look pretty and are 12..

I've learned through my years as a mother that it is all about planning. You will have to be a step ahead in a household with many kids that needs to be prepared and cared for in the morning. I had years of struggles where every morning was a battlefield filled with tears and yelling and screaming. The big change came when I changed my routine.
I started to get up a minimum 20-30 minutes before my children needed to be woken up.
I spoke out about my expectations with the kids and asked them to dress themselves and take more responsibility in the morning procedure.
I set times for breakfast and limits for TV and made a rule of no screen time in the mornings.

But saying all this - we still have nightmare mornings every now and then but far from as many as we used to have. 8 times of 10 we actually cruise through it nowadays. And our morning routines are kind of cozy actually. And that is worth acknowledging. Happy Tuesday morning everyone. :D

Kärlek
Annette

PS Thank you all who has taken part in the discussion on my last post. Very interesting thoughts and comments. :D

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29 comments :

  1. Annette, I almost felt like I was there in your home, on your morning routine! Sounds a lot like here. I get my 6 year old grandson up and ready for school. Fix his breakfast, cuddle on the sofa, fight him to hurry along if we are running late. But mostly, it is business as usual. I wake first, enjoy my coffee, then get the ball rolling, with laundry, and such. It is a nice routine. I remember though, when I had to do it with my own three kids, it was not always rise and shine. Lots of fights for the girls over clothes, and bathroom time. My son, he didn't like to leave his warm bed. Still doesn't. He is almost 25.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  2. It's so lovely to read another mums morning routine :o)

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  3. With such a view, getting up in the morning isn't that bad! :) But thank you for your insights! We struggle every morning. I seem to be running and arguing all the time. Maybe the pain of getting up earlier is worth it. I usually get out of bed at 7:00, but we have to leave the house at 7:50. And in the meantime I take a shower, the kids (6 and 8) get dressed (by my husband) and we have tot have breakfast... Writing it down like this, it's seems a pretty tighy schedule! Hopefully I will remember your peaceful start of the day tomorrow and that will motivate me enough to get up earlier!

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  4. I loved to read about your morning routines. It was like i was with you for a moment......

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  5. I love this post, it sounds like domestic bliss! Such a cozy slice of family life makes for beautiful reading. Mine starts cozily like this but usually ends up a little more frantic, I think I shall take a few cues from your routine and work them into to mine. Try and keep those battles to a minimum! :)

    S x

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  6. I loved reading this. You have a lovely routine in the morning. I love that you have special cuddles and sing to your children to wake them up. And how fantastic being able to look at the mountains.
    As a child I remember being on the sofa with my brother keeping cosy under a blanket. It brought back lovely memories of my own childhood.
    Nowadays I only have one son who is 16 to get to school. It starts with me asking him to get out of bed and after about 4 attempts I have to shout at him and then he moves. We are always then rushing to have breakfast make pack lunches and then racing in the car to get to school on time.
    I then have breakfast on my own when I get back. I have tried everything to get him up earlier and it does not work so we plod on. Sometimes I do get the odd hug now and again but I understand this is not cool for someone who is 16.
    So sad they grow up so fast.
    Rosezeeta.

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  7. ...thank you for taking us in your daily routine! Your way of living seems nice and comfy. Oh, yes, I know, that it is sometimes noisy and busy as well ;-)

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  8. ….love your morning schedule!!!!!
    Luckily my boys have to wear an uniform, so no fighting for clothes in the mornings!!!! At least this!!! ;oD
    xxxxx Ale

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  9. Lisa - Melbourne AustraliaNovember 19, 2013 at 11:39 AM

    It's lovely reading about how other families spend their mornings getting ready for the day ahead. No matter where in the world you live we seem to all have the same battles but probably wouldn't have it any other way. Your blog is lovely. I'm glad I came across it.

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  10. Hi. I have 3 children too (all grown now ) and I remember those mornings so well. So well it could in fact be yesterday. Like shimmers on a mirror. You sound a lovely Mum. Lucky,lucky munchkins to have you .

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  11. The views from your home are beautiful. What a cosy start you all have to the day. Have a good Tuesday. xxx

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  12. I always have tears in my eyes when you're writing abut your mother's experience. You really can reach the essence:)
    I have still small kids with whom quite often is impossible to wake up before them but it does not matter as they always snuggling to our bed :)
    Have a great day!

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  13. Good Morning Annette...I always love your views of your world...seeing how your day starts and having been through this myself(except over here in the US, my daughter had to be on the bus by 7:15). Wishing you a peaceful day. kaerlige hilsen...Eva

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  14. Your mornings sound a lot better than my mornings!!!!!!!! xxx

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  15. eventhough you have 3 kids and have a lot to do it sounds very peacefull

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  16. Lovely! Thanks for inviting us in!

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  17. You do a lovely job of making your little ones feel loved and cherished right from the start of their day.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  18. Sounds like you cope very well now...its very interesting to read someone blog about their mornings :)

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  19. You put a smile on my face when I read about your mornings. It sounds just like mornings in our house !!
    But I have 2 instead of 3 kids (5 and nearly 3 yrs old), however I still have not seen the day I can get up before them...(sight)

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  20. What a lovely post Annette, thank you so much took me right back to when my four boys were small and I agree with you, it is all about organisation. Thank you for letting us share precious moments in your wonderful life. Have a fabulous week, big hugs
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  21. Such a sweet post. My kids are grown up and I miss our chaotic morning routines. Enjoy them, even the battle filled ones.

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  22. That's nice to read about your routine:) I have only one daughter and I get up an hour earlier than her to avoid multitasking in the morning. One fine day she herself stopped watching TV in morning :)
    Managing three kids need a lot of patience and you are a loving mother:)

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  23. Our morning routines are very similar, we also all sit down to eat breakfast at 7.30. I'm getting up early these days, Little B wakes at 5.15m like clockwork. We come downstairs at 5.45 after half an hour cuddle time in bed. PLenty of time for me to then empty the dishwasher, drink coffee, make packed lunches, sort laundry, take a shower, get dressed, check emails before breakfast. Yes, our days start early, but I like the mornings :o)xxxxxxx

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  27. i love the routine you have! It sounds so cosy.. i can't wait for our routine to show up hihi :) ( i'm gonne follow you from now on.. love the stuff you make!)

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Thank you so much for visiting my world. I love reading your comments and I do my utterly best to respond to questions and sweet messages. Thank you again for popping by.

Kärlek
Annette

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