From Crazy To Calm - How to Start Your Day in the Spirit of Peace
By Kimberly T. Hodous

If I home schooled my kids, school probably wouldn't start til noon!  We love summer mornings and having no rush to get everyone up and out the door.

It always takes us a few weeks to get the new routine in place once school starts, but once we do, things run pretty smoothly.  It's taken me a few years to figure out what our family needed to do to make our mornings calm, and just like all of life - it's the little things that make the biggest difference.  Nothing earth shattering here.  No scientific research, no surveys, no psychological analysis.  Just plain ole common sense and holding yourself and your kids accountable to a few simple ideas that truly will take your mornings from crazy to calm and allow you to start your day in a spirit of peace! 

1) Get up Earlier.  Ugh....you think.  Every minute of sleep counts.  (Maybe I should title this one, go to bed earlier J!!)  It's amazing what a difference 15 minutes can make.  I promise it's worth it!  Your entire day will be CALMER if you allow yourself enough time to get ready with ease in the morning. 

2) Start off by Just Being. 

Each time dawn appears, the mystery is there in its entirety.* René Daumal 

If you hit the snooze three times and then hop up and crazily jump into the day - the stage is set one way!  On the other hand, if you wake up, take a minute to breathe and get connected - the stage is set another way!  I heard someone say once, "If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters!"  I always take 10 to 15 minutes to myself in the morning - often to just sit and enjoy my coffee or tea.  Sometimes I meditate, sometimes I journal, sometimes I do yoga, but mostly I just be.  Allow yourself a few moments to feel the mystery of the day ahead.  'Settle' in the morning, get grounded, get connected and magically everything else in the Universe will rally to your aid! 

3) Prepare the Night Before:  Going through backpacks and cleaning out lunch boxes is a great thing to do the night before.  Then there are no surprises in the morning - papers to sign, school pictures the next day or forgotten worksheets!  Another time saver for the night before is to make picking out clothes for the next day part of the bedtime ritual. Having clothes chosen is such a little thing, but it's just one less decision that a sleepy-head has to make in the morning - especially if they're cranky!  (I've had a shortage of socks turn an entire morning upside down!)  I have to admit I usually don't pack lunches at night.  I'd prefer to allow an extra 5 minutes to do it in the morning.  That's just me.  You figure out what works best for you, so either pack lunches the night before, or make sure you've got a time allotted for it in the morning.  Anything you can do the night before to make the morning more CALM is sure to payoff with BIG benefits! 

4) No TV.  I used to let my kids watch TV in the morning.  It's not that I have anything against Sponge Bob, I've got something against the big black box that makes noise in the morning.  At first, my kids had a fit.  It was so routine to get up and plop in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal.  However, the house felt CRAZY, instead of CALM.  They really didn't fight very hard when they knew I was serious about no TV in the AM - and it's been one of the single biggest factors in getting us to CALM! 

5) Make everyone responsible for their own breakfast.  Even my six year old gets his own breakfast.  We moved the cereal to the lowest shelf in the pantry and have a special 'milk carton' that we keep on the bottom shelf of the fridge.  He loves getting up and making his own breakfast.  With a few modifications, your kids can be self-sufficient for breakfast!  While they're eating, you can finish getting ready, fixing lunches or getting things to the car.  This is also a great way to empower them to take care of themselves!

6) Attitude Check:  The biggest factor in your family's morning routine is going to be your attitude. We've all heard the old saying, 'If Momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy!'  It goes the same with CALM, - IF MOMMA AIN'T CALM, AIN'T NO ONE GONNA BE CALM!  If you're short, snappy and brusque, CALM is going to go right out the window.  So set your intention upon rising.  Hold a vision of a fun, easy calm exit from the house.  Keep your voice quiet and your instructions kind and loving.  Believe your family can do it and mornings can be a peaceful time in your household. 

By Kimberly T. Hodous, the Working Mom Guru 

About The Author: Successful CEO and mother of 5, Kimberly T.  Hodous, "The Working Mom Guru," publishes the life enhancing 'Now and Zen' monthly ezine. If you're ready to let go of your stress, live a more balanced life and, and have more time for you, get your FREE tried and true tips now at http://www.balancedworkingmom.com  

Source: EzineArticles

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