Tell me how you became a morning person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So I typically go to bed about 10:30, and wake up at 6:15 (my older kid wakes me at this time). I do morning routine stuff until I leave the house at 7:45.

Its just that by the time I do the cleanup/morning prep/etc. after the kids are in bed, it's something like 9:45? And then yes, I want a few mins to spend with my husband, and also to read or watch tv. To decompress.

Right now, I do all my finances at lunch at work during lunch, because that is when I have time but really, I'd rather just eat my lunch and take a stroll or call my mom. I already only take a 30 min lunch. And I don't work out often enough. Twice a week, I telework, so on those days I get extra time instead of commuting, so I'm able to work out. But that's it. I'd like to up it to 5x/week.

If you want to get up earlier, you have to go to bed earlier. 9:45 is very late to have the kids in bed. If you are committed to it, kids in bed by 8:30, you in bed by 9:30, and up at 5:30.

I also agree with a PP who said you have to be consistent about it and get up at that time daily, even on weekends. For me, if I sleep in even once, my bedtime is blown and then I'm back in a cycle of dragging in the morning.

Kids are actually in bed by 9 (well actually, 8:15 for the younger one, and 8:45 for the older one), but it takes me from about 9-9:45 to do all that extra stuff (lunches, cleanup, laundry, bkfast prep, backpacks, etc.).
The same time wakeup makes sense...though painful. Ugh. Right now DH and I take turns on Sat/Sun. One of us wakes up with the kids and entertains them until 9:30 or so, and lets the other sleep in...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So I typically go to bed about 10:30, and wake up at 6:15 (my older kid wakes me at this time). I do morning routine stuff until I leave the house at 7:45.

Its just that by the time I do the cleanup/morning prep/etc. after the kids are in bed, it's something like 9:45? And then yes, I want a few mins to spend with my husband, and also to read or watch tv. To decompress.

Right now, I do all my finances at lunch at work during lunch, because that is when I have time but really, I'd rather just eat my lunch and take a stroll or call my mom. I already only take a 30 min lunch. And I don't work out often enough. Twice a week, I telework, so on those days I get extra time instead of commuting, so I'm able to work out. But that's it. I'd like to up it to 5x/week.

If you want to get up earlier, you have to go to bed earlier. 9:45 is very late to have the kids in bed. If you are committed to it, kids in bed by 8:30, you in bed by 9:30, and up at 5:30.

I also agree with a PP who said you have to be consistent about it and get up at that time daily, even on weekends. For me, if I sleep in even once, my bedtime is blown and then I'm back in a cycle of dragging in the morning.

Kids are actually in bed by 9 (well actually, 8:15 for the younger one, and 8:45 for the older one), but it takes me from about 9-9:45 to do all that extra stuff (lunches, cleanup, laundry, bkfast prep, backpacks, etc.).
The same time wakeup makes sense...though painful. Ugh. Right now DH and I take turns on Sat/Sun. One of us wakes up with the kids and entertains them until 9:30 or so, and lets the other sleep in...

So my other advice would be to do most of the extra stuff while the kids are awake. They can help with cleanup and laundry. Backpacks get emptied out and dealt with straight away when everyone gets home. 1) This is the only way to maintain sanity and is much more efficient and 2) more importantly, I think it's important for kids to see family chores getting done. There are no magic elves that come cleanup the kitchen and do the laundry when you're asleep. These are family chores and we do them on family time.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids, op? If they get up at 6:15, 9 is too late unless they are pretty old - in which case, I would recommend outsourcing some of the lunch stuff to them and not getting up with them.

My kids wake up by 6 no matter what time they go to bed. As a result, they are asleep by 7.

[Anonymous]

So my other advice would be to do most of the extra stuff while the kids are awake. They can help with cleanup and laundry. Backpacks get emptied out and dealt with straight away when everyone gets home. 1) This is the only way to maintain sanity and is much more efficient and 2) more importantly, I think it's important for kids to see family chores getting done. There are no magic elves that come cleanup the kitchen and do the laundry when you're asleep. These are family chores and we do them on family time.

Yes, this. My kid is only 3.5 but we do almost all the cleanup/prep for next day/lunches etc. while he's awake. I cook dinner right after we all get home while he and DH put away school stuff, clean out lunchboxes, and carry out trash and recycling before playing. Then we eat. Then DH does dishes while I play with kid some more and do his bedtime prep, like picking out tomorrow's outfit, packing lunches, filling out forms for school, whatever. Then we do bath/reading routine, he's in bed by 7:30, and DH and I have a couple hours for whatever else we need before going to bed (I go earlier, he stays up later--but we both have time for both relaxing and stuff like folding laundry, finances, etc.) We're having kid #2 in a couple months and will need to divide and conquer more in the evenings, but I think the general schedule will stay the same.

Totally agree with PPs that kids should be part of the solution, esp. as they get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids, op? If they get up at 6:15, 9 is too late unless they are pretty old - in which case, I would recommend outsourcing some of the lunch stuff to them and not getting up with them.

My kids wake up by 6 no matter what time they go to bed. As a result, they are asleep by 7.

Kids are 3 and 5. The little one still takes a 2 hour nap (from 1-3 pm), and sleeps from about 8:15 pm - 7:15 am everyday. She seems to need more sleep in general. The older one sleeps from 8:45 pm - 6:15. To me it seems like not a lot of sleep, but she's always been that way.

I'll try to get them involved in chores/lunches/backpacks....this is what my MIL has always suggested. She does not get how/why I always separate housework from spending time with kids. I guess as a WOHM who gets home at 5:30, I'm trying to devote all my home-time to just playing with them, talking with them, but it leaves me with very little time for anything else...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So I typically go to bed about 10:30, and wake up at 6:15 (my older kid wakes me at this time). I do morning routine stuff until I leave the house at 7:45.

Its just that by the time I do the cleanup/morning prep/etc. after the kids are in bed, it's something like 9:45? And then yes, I want a few mins to spend with my husband, and also to read or watch tv. To decompress.

Right now, I do all my finances at lunch at work during lunch, because that is when I have time but really, I'd rather just eat my lunch and take a stroll or call my mom. I already only take a 30 min lunch. And I don't work out often enough. Twice a week, I telework, so on those days I get extra time instead of commuting, so I'm able to work out. But that's it. I'd like to up it to 5x/week.

If you want to get up earlier, you have to go to bed earlier. 9:45 is very late to have the kids in bed. If you are committed to it, kids in bed by 8:30, you in bed by 9:30, and up at 5:30.

I also agree with a PP who said you have to be consistent about it and get up at that time daily, even on weekends. For me, if I sleep in even once, my bedtime is blown and then I'm back in a cycle of dragging in the morning.

This - all of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So I typically go to bed about 10:30, and wake up at 6:15 (my older kid wakes me at this time). I do morning routine stuff until I leave the house at 7:45.

Its just that by the time I do the cleanup/morning prep/etc. after the kids are in bed, it's something like 9:45? And then yes, I want a few mins to spend with my husband, and also to read or watch tv. To decompress.

Right now, I do all my finances at lunch at work during lunch, because that is when I have time but really, I'd rather just eat my lunch and take a stroll or call my mom. I already only take a 30 min lunch. And I don't work out often enough. Twice a week, I telework, so on those days I get extra time instead of commuting, so I'm able to work out. But that's it. I'd like to up it to 5x/week.

If you want to get up earlier, you have to go to bed earlier. 9:45 is very late to have the kids in bed. If you are committed to it, kids in bed by 8:30, you in bed by 9:30, and up at 5:30.

I also agree with a PP who said you have to be consistent about it and get up at that time daily, even on weekends. For me, if I sleep in even once, my bedtime is blown and then I'm back in a cycle of dragging in the morning.

You are already up at 6:15. How much earlier do you want to get up? If you wake up at 5:30, you will probably go to sleep earlier.

Kids are actually in bed by 9 (well actually, 8:15 for the younger one, and 8:45 for the older one), but it takes me from about 9-9:45 to do all that extra stuff (lunches, cleanup, laundry, bkfast prep, backpacks, etc.).
The same time wakeup makes sense...though painful. Ugh. Right now DH and I take turns on Sat/Sun. One of us wakes up with the kids and entertains them until 9:30 or so, and lets the other sleep in...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids, op? If they get up at 6:15, 9 is too late unless they are pretty old - in which case, I would recommend outsourcing some of the lunch stuff to them and not getting up with them.

My kids wake up by 6 no matter what time they go to bed. As a result, they are asleep by 7.

Kids are 3 and 5. The little one still takes a 2 hour nap (from 1-3 pm), and sleeps from about 8:15 pm - 7:15 am everyday. She seems to need more sleep in general. The older one sleeps from 8:45 pm - 6:15. To me it seems like not a lot of sleep, but she's always been that way.

I'll try to get them involved in chores/lunches/backpacks....this is what my MIL has always suggested. She does not get how/why I always separate housework from spending time with kids. I guess as a WOHM who gets home at 5:30, I'm trying to devote all my home-time to just playing with them, talking with them, but it leaves me with very little time for anything else...

I am the one who initially suggested integrating chores more. I am also a WOHM and also get home around 5:30. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. You can do the chores and incorporate it into being with them. I get a basket of clean laundry and we all "fold" together in my upstairs hall so I can put away laundry as I fold. (My kids race up and down the hall, sit in the laundry basket, or fold things and do a terrible job and I re-fold after they give it to me.) As I clean-up the kitchen, I turn on music and they do a dance party and we are all together in the kitchen/den area. They each get a dishcloth to clean the floor under their chairs. While I pack lunches, I move around the kitchen and talk to my oldest about his day. I guess the point is...you can still engage with your kids while you're doing this stuff. They just want to spend time with you. They don't care what you're doing exactly or if you're "playing". It sounds like you just need to multi-task a bit more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids, op? If they get up at 6:15, 9 is too late unless they are pretty old - in which case, I would recommend outsourcing some of the lunch stuff to them and not getting up with them.

My kids wake up by 6 no matter what time they go to bed. As a result, they are asleep by 7.

Kids are 3 and 5. The little one still takes a 2 hour nap (from 1-3 pm), and sleeps from about 8:15 pm - 7:15 am everyday. She seems to need more sleep in general. The older one sleeps from 8:45 pm - 6:15. To me it seems like not a lot of sleep, but she's always been that way.

I'll try to get them involved in chores/lunches/backpacks....this is what my MIL has always suggested. She does not get how/why I always separate housework from spending time with kids. I guess as a WOHM who gets home at 5:30, I'm trying to devote all my home-time to just playing with them, talking with them, but it leaves me with very little time for anything else...

I am the one who initially suggested integrating chores more. I am also a WOHM and also get home around 5:30. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. You can do the chores and incorporate it into being with them. I get a basket of clean laundry and we all "fold" together in my upstairs hall so I can put away laundry as I fold. (My kids race up and down the hall, sit in the laundry basket, or fold things and do a terrible job and I re-fold after they give it to me.) As I clean-up the kitchen, I turn on music and they do a dance party and we are all together in the kitchen/den area. They each get a dishcloth to clean the floor under their chairs. While I pack lunches, I move around the kitchen and talk to my oldest about his day. I guess the point is...you can still engage with your kids while you're doing this stuff. They just want to spend time with you. They don't care what you're doing exactly or if you're "playing". It sounds like you just need to multi-task a bit more.

I think she needs to get her DH to step it up or outsource. You only have so many hours in a day. My kids tidy up their things but they are awful helpers. Their "job" is do study.

[Anonymous]

Quit drinking at night, asleep by 10:30, and bought a keurig for my morning coffee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids, op? If they get up at 6:15, 9 is too late unless they are pretty old - in which case, I would recommend outsourcing some of the lunch stuff to them and not getting up with them.

My kids wake up by 6 no matter what time they go to bed. As a result, they are asleep by 7.

Kids are 3 and 5. The little one still takes a 2 hour nap (from 1-3 pm), and sleeps from about 8:15 pm - 7:15 am everyday. She seems to need more sleep in general. The older one sleeps from 8:45 pm - 6:15. To me it seems like not a lot of sleep, but she's always been that way.

I'll try to get them involved in chores/lunches/backpacks....this is what my MIL has always suggested. She does not get how/why I always separate housework from spending time with kids. I guess as a WOHM who gets home at 5:30, I'm trying to devote all my home-time to just playing with them, talking with them, but it leaves me with very little time for anything else...

I am the one who initially suggested integrating chores more. I am also a WOHM and also get home around 5:30. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. You can do the chores and incorporate it into being with them. I get a basket of clean laundry and we all "fold" together in my upstairs hall so I can put away laundry as I fold. (My kids race up and down the hall, sit in the laundry basket, or fold things and do a terrible job and I re-fold after they give it to me.) As I clean-up the kitchen, I turn on music and they do a dance party and we are all together in the kitchen/den area. They each get a dishcloth to clean the floor under their chairs. While I pack lunches, I move around the kitchen and talk to my oldest about his day. I guess the point is...you can still engage with your kids while you're doing this stuff. They just want to spend time with you. They don't care what you're doing exactly or if you're "playing". It sounds like you just need to multi-task a bit more.

I think she needs to get her DH to step it up or outsource. You only have so many hours in a day. My kids tidy up their things but they are awful helpers. Their "job" is do study.

How do you outsource cleaning up your kitchen after dinner or making lunch and breakfast for your kids? Do you have a live-in housekeeper?

I couldn't disagree more with the approach you are describing. Yes, their main jobs is to study. Just like my main job is to work to make money to support our family. It is all of our jobs to pick up after ourselves and learn how to be part of a family unit where everyone contributes.

[Anonymous]

Go to bed by 930p or 10p. Wake up, codfee, workout. Happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids, op? If they get up at 6:15, 9 is too late unless they are pretty old - in which case, I would recommend outsourcing some of the lunch stuff to them and not getting up with them.

My kids wake up by 6 no matter what time they go to bed. As a result, they are asleep by 7.

Kids are 3 and 5. The little one still takes a 2 hour nap (from 1-3 pm), and sleeps from about 8:15 pm - 7:15 am everyday. She seems to need more sleep in general. The older one sleeps from 8:45 pm - 6:15. To me it seems like not a lot of sleep, but she's always been that way.

I'll try to get them involved in chores/lunches/backpacks....this is what my MIL has always suggested. She does not get how/why I always separate housework from spending time with kids. I guess as a WOHM who gets home at 5:30, I'm trying to devote all my home-time to just playing with them, talking with them, but it leaves me with very little time for anything else...

-For the 5 yr old, decide a routine you want him/her to follow when you get home each day and then do it. This can include things like cleaning out his lunchbox, taking folder out of backpack, putting backpacking in a special spot, picking out an evening book or activity,

-Have something very simple for your 3 yr old as well, like hang up his/her jacket, put shoes in a special spot

- to make lunch packing easier, I got a small plastic storage bin and on Sunday, I separated out the snacks into a big ziploc bag, one for each day and then I would just dump the ziploc into my kids lunch box along with a sandwich.

-Aim for both kids being in their bedroom by 8pm - assuming they don't sleep in the same room - the older child can stay awake on his own for a little while and you go about housework. Come back close to lights out time and tuck in, etc.

-Go to bed earlier even 15 minutes. It can make a difference.

-Get up the same time every single day even on weekends (this one was huge for me and really changed me into a "morning person")

[Anonymous]

Few things:
~the kids need to be in bed MUCH earlier. The evening should be very quick: homework, dinner, bath, bed. A 7:30 bedtime is not unusual.

~From 8-9, do your catch up tasks: lunches, cleaning, prep, whatever.

~Go to bed at 9:00. Seriously. Read, relax. Asleep by 9:30.

~Wake up at 5am. Exercise. Shower. Relax. Kids get up at 6:30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to get up at the same time every day. No sleeping in on the weekends or days off. I only realized how important this was when I had kids and had no choice but to get up the same time every day. It really gets your body in a routine and makes it a lot easier to get up early.

Yep. I'm up @ 5:30 every day. In bed by 8:30 to read / relax, asleep by 9:30. Very little variation. A late night can really throw me for a loop.