I have committed to get up out of bed before my kids are up for the month of January and I have to admit that this terrifies me. I am not a morning person and do not enjoy the whole “rise and shine” thing. I wait until the last minute and usually it's a kid at my bedside that wakes me up, and then I'm mad at them for waking me up. There are a couple of reasons why I think I need to start getting up and moving before the kids are up.
#1 For the love when I worked at the station I was up at 4:45 every day, so I think I can handle 5:30 or 6AM. I actually told one of my girlfriends while I was working that if I ever stopped working, I could never use the excuse that I don't like mornings when talking about getting up and spending time with God. I can do it. I know it's possible. I did it for 5 months.
#2 It just doesn't seem right for my kids to wake me up. I'm usually very cranky in the mornings when they wake me up and that just isn't fair for that to be my first interaction with them. It's not fair for me to be mad at them for waking me up, when I'm the mom and should be up! Also, I flashed one of my boys the other morning while they were waking me up. It wasn't pretty and I'm pretty certain I ruined him for life. No 7 year old needs to be around when their mommy has a … what shall I call it … a …. wardrobe malfunction!
#3 I have noticed that Amos does so much better in the mornings when we are not rushed and we have time to talk and hug and not run around like chickens with our heads cut off. (Which by the way, I love that statement and it makes me chuckle each time I use it!) I admit I'm very guilty of waking up about 5 minutes after I needed to be up and then just turning on the boys light and telling them to get up, get dressed, come eat breakfast and then I'm off to the kitchen to put lunches together, (I know I should do the night before, but I'm working on one thing at a time here people) make breakfast and try to get out the door at a decent time so the kids aren't late to school. Not that the Ivey kids are ever late to school … yeah right.
The mornings before school have become miserable. I'm mad because no one is getting dressed as fast as I think they should. I'm frustrated because a kid woke me up and I'm so dang selfish when I'm sleepy. We are running around crazy. I finally get the boys to school and I then sigh because I'm so glad they are gone because mornings are so crazy. Do you see how ugly that makes my heart? Selfish people.
I've noticed that I set the tone in the mornings. When momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy. (Another saying that makes me smile.) I started thinking last month about this selfish heart and how I'm making my kids suffer because I can't get my lazy butt out of bed and ready to greet them in the mornings.
This is why for January I'm gonna try my hardest to be the mom that is happy in the morning. To accomplish this I must get up before them and ready my heart and soul for my kids and for the day ahead. I would like to be dressed and presentable, even if this is workout clothes for heading to the gym after school drop off. I would like to have breakfast and lunches somewhat planned and thought out the night before. I would also liked to have spent some time in the Word, even if it's just a verse or two. Something to set my heart and mind on things above.
I need to let you know that this will be hard for me. Very hard. I know there are many of you moms out there that have this down and this is your “normal” and you might even be giggling about how far behind I am in this discipline. If you have this down, will you let me know what strategies work for you. How do you keep it up? Any of you want to join me in this challenge this month? Let's do it together! I have one more day of Christmas vacation and then the real world starts Thursday!
***UPDATE … if any of you want to do this in an organized fashion, you should consider signing up with INSPIRED TO ACTION's challenge. I signed up and am looking forward to the accountability and words of encouragement from Kat. We're all in this together! Today (1/3) is the last day to sign up!
#1 way to get up early is to go to bed early!! As soon as the kids go to bed at 8, there I go! The bad part is you don’t get to watch TV at night but I gave that up a long time ago and watch my shows while they are at school. Also, any chores and “me time” is now in the mornings.
I’ve been slack at this during the holidays but I really need to start back myself.
In the past you have mentioned your struggles with food, I understand b/c I have dealt with the same struggles. So what has helped me rise early in the morning is feeding my body well and maintain my exercise routine. Both activities give me the extra motivation and energy to rise in the morning. It’s no fun to be around a mama who is tired from a food hangover – your too tired to get up, be kind, exercise and focus on the Lord and your family. You only start focusing on your self and that never ends well. I hope you acorns your goal.
Sorry…. Achieve your goal – I think auto correct did that
Go Jamie go!! I totally need to give this a shot too! I like the idea of getting things done in the morning before everybody is up…. But do I like it enough to actually take action…. Hmmmmm!! For sure keep us posted!
I struggle with mornings. Even though I’m out of bed and on the road from New Braunfels to Austin by 6:15 every morning, if it hasn’t been a good morning, the day is shot and it’s still bad by the time I pick my son up at 5.
I came across an ebook titled Maximize Your Mornings — it’s great. I’m going to take part in the Hello Mornings Challenge starting in a few weeks. I’m hoping that by having a more structured plan, I can have better mornings and days.
Here’s the addy if you want to check it out: http://inspiredtoaction.com/resources/hellomornings/
Trina – Thanks for sharing, and guess what? I signed up too!!! I read this ebook a long time ago, but haven’t put anything into practice and this month is the month!! You’ll be hearing me talk about the challenge more too!
Loving your blog! I NEED to join this challenge with you! My 7 kiddos and hubby would really appreciate it I’m sure! Thank you for sharing! Good luck!!
I, too, am not a morning person at all. I’ve struggled a lot as you have. This summer, I made the choice to get up early before the kids so I could have quiet time. I love chai tea, so I would get up and make a latte first thing, then head outside to sit on my patio with my bible. I aimed for about 30 minutes out there, but sometimes it was less. I’m praying for you!
I’m in – been struggling with this since I started staying home. I don’t have a school age kiddo yet but even so our mornings go so much better if I get up and spend some quiet time with God, get some treadmill time, and am ready to greet the day when Sammy wakes up. (Still need coffee though!) I’ll challenge myself this month too! They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, should be plenty of time!
I’m in! Waking up before my daughter is also one of my goals for 2012. I, too, am NOT a morning person (my husband is!) and am SO DANG SELFISH/GROUCHY in the mornings. I have realized it’s not so much mornings/early that I dislike, it’s just getting out of bed perdiod – no matter what the time. My daughter is only 15 months, but when I wake up to her on the monitor and have to run around crazy to get dressed & then do everything for her I need to do, the morning starts off HORRIBLY, and I like you start the day resenting her and I HATE that feeling. And it sets the tone for the rest of the day. I work 3 days a week so that also means if I don’t get up before her, no time with God until bedtime that night – another way to ensure a not so great day. Something I am aiming for is at the very least to read “Jesus Calling” before my feet hit the floor. I have the app on my iPhone so it’s super easy. Then, even if I am up later than I want, or Harper wakes up early, or don’t get time for the 20-30 minutes I would love to spend with Jesus in the morning, I have at the very least set the tone for the day. I HATE getting up, but have discovered that I LOVE getting things done in the morning. My day is so much less stressful and I have so much more to give to both my daughter and my husband.
Jamie, this is hilarious to me. Mainly because that is me in 2 or 3 years.
Also because your wardrobe malfunctioned in front of your 7 year old 🙂 Which, I also could see happening to me at some point in my life.
Thanks for being such a realistic and wonderful example of the mama I want to be for my kid (s). 🙂
I am a bit concerned with this for myself. I am 28 years old and am about to have my first kiddo (this month ya’ll!). I have been able to wake up at the VERY last minute for… all of my life and that is all about to change.
I would love to hear how the challenge works out for you. I would love to sign up but am thinking the month I birth my first babe isn’t the time for me 🙂 Maybe in the second or third session I will be able to!
i am doing this too. for almost the exact same reasons. im having a hard time getting to bed early though…
I’ve been waiting to do this for a while. I’ve tried before with little success so don’t feel like you’re the only one out there. I LOVE to sleep. But I love my kids more. And I need a challenge to help encourage me in this area. I’m so happy I heard about the Hello Mornings Challenge from you. I’m really excited to start (eh excited might not be the word maybe encouraged.) The few days I’ve gotten up, dressed, had my quiet time before my kids arise have been awesome in comparison to me waking with them.
PS I tried to start to today and slept through my alarm by an HOUR…not off to a good start.
I am totally with you on this Jamie! I am such a night owl, and getting ready to have foster kiddos who will really need a calm mama and a steady routine. My mom (who is a morning person) was so great about this. Here are some things she did (that I now copy when I have kids staying overnight) that worked really well:
1. Lay out clothes the night before (for everyone: you, hubby, kids, the works)
2. Set the breakfast table the night before (sounds weird, but works, and is easy to do as you put away dinner dishes). She even laid out our vitamins so we wouldn’t forget.
3. Backpacks and purses ready to go by the door the night before.
4. Lunches packed and in the fridge the night before.
For the actual morning, my mom would get up and fully dressed and do her devotional and everything. But I can’t get up that early; if I tried to I’d be setting myself up for failure. I’ve found that if I can get up fifteen minutes before the kids, that gives me enough time to be presentable (tho not perfect!) and to be out of the cranky stage (or at least the worst of it) so I can wake the kids with calm cheeriness even if I’m still groggy. I’m a huge fan of a quick devotional at the breakfast table–it helps me share my faith with the kids and starts us all off right!
Will be praying for/with you!! You can do it!
JOINING YOU!! I did the Maximize Your Mornings challenge last session and this time I signed up to be an accountability captain. I could have written this post!!! But things are going better since I’ve done the challenge. Not perfect, no way! But better =) Good for you for issuing yourself this challenge and then joining the MYM one! You can do it!!! Solidarity mommas! We’re not alone in this! We can do it!!
I SO need to do this . . . I’m terrible about letting the kids wake me up, and then not being in a great mood when I actually do get up. Thanks for the encouragement!