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Now that summer is gone and the jist of getting back into a schedule is in full play, and with my husband gone, I’ll admit that the days have been more chaotic than I am used to.

Managing a whole house with six school kids and a toddler, you can bet things get pretty wild in our home.

If you’re anything like my big family and are looking for ways to help manage your busy mornings, don’t despair. Here’s: How I Manage My Crazy School Mornings With Seven Kids.

I Swear By My Bedtime Routine

Have you ever gone on a road trip with kids? You make a pitstop for a quick bathroom break, and when someone opens the door, all your trash is exposed?

That’s the best way to explain how my mornings were. We were like the crazy, busy, large family of the neighborhood, and everyone knew when we were leaving. I’m pretty sure we were their alarm clocks.

Before I had a night routine, I would do everything in the morning. I would prep school lunches and snacks. I would make breakfast and multitask, fixing all 5 of my daughter’s hair while they ate breakfast. All this with the crying, fighting, and nonstop calling my name.

I’d help all my kids find a pair of missing socks, encounter the backpack my kinder misplaced while finding her lost shoe, and then run out of the house before I even brushed my teeth. On top of all the chaos, you still have to scan your kid’s outfit on the way out to ensure they don’t have the same outfit as the day before.

It’s easy to judge all my mishaps. But if you don’t have as many kids as I do, it’s hard for this mama.

It’s pretty arduous doing things alone. \

We lacked so much structure. Dreadful mornings went on for years. My mind and body were so immune to the chaos that I never bothered to change a thing.

Until I was forced into getting my life together and creating something, I could religiously stick to and be consistent with. I made a Night Routine With Seven Kids that has worked for me for years.

I swear by this routine! It was the perfect boost that I needed for my mornings. It was like I had a headstart on my day, and I felt like I was always one step ahead.

Read Night-routine-with-seven-kids-from-chaos-to-calm for a full breakdown of my night routine.

My Grab-and-go system

Two words: Quick and efficient. That’s what a grab-and-go system will give you.

My kids have a lot to grab on their way out; shoes, backpacks, instruments, athletic bags, lunch bags, etc. My kids have also forgotten an item or two on the way out. We were always a hot mess when leaving the house!

I was prone to making a few trips back to school as if it were a part of my daily routine. If you want to avoid making multiple trips to the school, create an efficient system that can work for you. Not only will creating a grab-and-go system save you the chaos, but it also saves a ton of time!

Someone once said, “Everything needs a home!” and by that, she meant there needs to be a specific spot assigned for special items. Not only will a home for your things keep your house organized, but it also helps the kids find a routine of their own. Like hanging up their backpacks and coats or putting away their shoes.

Before I had a mudroom (the most logical place in the house for this sort of thing), I used hooks, baskets, bins, and hangers. I intended to decorate and make things look neat when what was really happening was I accidentally created a nesting spot for school and house items.

My family automatically fell into a routine, and leaving the house became swift and manageable.

Meal prep for breakfast

I raised seven non-picky eaters. That is my advantage as a mom when feeding the children. I never had a problem feeding them cereal in the morning. In fact, I loved it because it was the easiest thing to make.

I had the upper hand on their health because my kids ate anything I made them. But I also had time consumption to consider, so cereal was always the top pick of the morning. I learned two things with cereal; it made them grumpy, and it kept them hungry.

I opted for eggs and fruit for a healthier and more fulfilling option. Eggs are a little more time-consuming than cereal, but it was more beneficial. It quickly turned into eggs and sausage. Or eggs and pancakes. All of these options were better than cereal, including the pancakes. The only problem I had, was time.

I noticed the kid’s behavior changed from this new diet. They were more awake and attentive. They were also happier and less combative. The challenge was how to be consistent with this new diet and time.

MEAL PREP!

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought this was a genius idea. You can keep it as simple as you want to or be as creative as you want. I will always opt for simplicity over anything else.

My favorite meal prep is homemade waffles. I love freezing homemade waffles because the kids can toast them in the mornings, which still tastes delicious.

The benefit of meal prep and freezing your meals for later is it saves you a ton of time throughout the week.

If you want to save time on breakfast while keeping it nutritious, try meal prepping and freezing them. It takes less than 2 minutes to warm it up.

Make Self-Care a part of your morning ritual

I have comprehended the significance of self-care during the most stressful part of my life; being a caretaker, a wife, and a mother.

Someone asked me what I do for myself. I thought I didn’t understand the question until I realized that I just didn’t have an answer. Truthfully, that was the one part of my life that I had been neglecting for a very long time; that part was self-care.

I began taking long walks, which turned into lifting weights again; lifting weights turned into confidence, and confidence reminded me to value myself because I am worth it.

5-helpful-tips-to-push-through-burnouts

How does this all tie into managing a busy morning?

Because self-care eventually became an essential part of my morning routine.

Every morning I’m up by five; I say my prayer, read my scriptures, workout for 30 minutes, and still have time to help my kids prepare. Giving myself the time to take care of myself reduced the amount of stress and anxiety, and it also boosted my confidence.

Because of self-care, I know I can tackle the day; It’s a part of my affirmation: “You got this, mama!” is what I tell myself every morning.

So if you’re having a rough time trying to manage your morning, remember, take a step back, give yourself some grace, and start taking care of yourself.

You got this!