How I'm Fitting in Running Now That School's Back in Session

So hard to wake them up when they are sleeping so soundly!

 Yeah, so I'm a little late on the "back to school" post, but I would wager that most of us are still getting back in the swing of things. I have to admit, its nice having a routine again. But sometimes this routine is a little grueling. I can't wait for Thanksgiving, just to get the long weekend (even though we just had one for Labor Day) because I am going to be burned out by then!

So, in my school district, the kids start at 7:45 am, which seems insanely early to me. I don't know who is in charge of making up these hours, but to wake up my 6 year old Monkey at 6:15 am every day is hard sometimes even for ME! He's my grumpier child in the morning, and very difficult to get out of bed and get going. Maybe because I live in a small-ish town, everybody goes to bed early because there is not a lot going on at night, the school board must figure we all pop right out of bed before the rooster says cock-a-doodle-doo. Fortunately the Buddha's preschool doesn't start til 8:30. In my younger days, I never would have believed I would be grateful for an 8:30 start.

Me and Scrappy Mama on the move! Blair Witch looking!

I still have to get my runs in.  And now, its not just in the morning before I have to leave for work, its got to be done before I even wake Monkey up. I have got to really hand it to my running buddy, Scrappy Mama. She does the 10-minute drive to my house to arrive by 5:30 am so we can crank out 4+ miles before I have to get back and get the kids morning routine started. If I had to physically get up and leave my house and be at her house by 5:30 am I think I'd fail miserably. There are so many non-running days that my alarm goes off at 5 am and I decide I am too tired and turn it off. I wish it were different, but I'd truly be lost without my running buddy. She is pretty reliable, and there are times when we have to flake for various reasons but we always have running on the brain. If we have to cancel today, can we make it work tomorrow? We both want to be healthy and fit, for ourselves and our families. We meet up at least 3 mornings a week. On Saturday we typically do a longer run (as our childrens' sports schedules permit) and don't have to get up at so ungodly of an hour. 2 other days out of the week I do yoga or another cross-training type DVD, plus have my YMCA membership for Sunday morning TRX.

 It's all good!

--Yawn.

5 Tips to Make Your Morning Routine Flow Smoothly

Backpacks and Mommy's Purse Ready to Go

Since my son started kindergarten and my other son started preschool this year, there have been more than a few mornings that have been super hectic. Like the day we were literally running across wet grass and I pushed my son inside his classroom just as the bell was ringing, only to realize as the door was closing that only one of his shoes was tied. Or the time that he was crying as I was yelling at him from upstairs telling him he needed to be ready because I was coming downstairs and we needed to leave NOW. Then the other time he went to school without brushing his teeth because we ran out of time. The best was me running across the lawn carrying Buddha because his short legs weren't running fast enough and I almost did a face plant in my wedge heels. Yeah. Not my finer moments as a Mom. I have my excuses. I have two small children and I work full time, so I have to get myself ready in the morning too. My husband works most nights so I try to let him sleep so I am pretty much solo. But, I know there are people in worse situations, so I'll save my whining. I have figured out how to get my crap together. It only took a few weeks.

Here are some things I have learned along the way to get our day off to a good start::

Give yourself extra time. I go to work after I drop off my son at school at the bright and early time of 7:40. That means, we need to leave the house no later than 7:25. Every day, I shoot for a 7:20 departure time. Honestly, even if I left the house at 7:30, we would still be on time. But shooting for 7:20 always leaves us with enough time to drive there without speeding, park the car, and walk to the classroom and have a nice chat along the way.

Set secondary alarms/timers. I think it doesn't matter if your kids are young, or even up to high school. Shoot, this even helps me stay on track. I have an alarm set for me on my iphone at 6:00 a.m. At 6:15, another goes off  for me to wake up the Monkey. At 7:10, an alarm goes off for him to put his shoes on. At night, I have an alarm that goes off at 7:30 p.m. to make sure the kids are getting in bed.

Make lunch the night before. I know this is not always possible, depending on what it is, some things are just not good if they are prepared and packaged the night before.  I think doing as much as possible should suffice. While my son is eating breakfast I throw together whatever last minute stuff needs to be made,  assemble it all with an ice pack and a drink, zip up his lunch container and put it in his backpack.

Set clothes out the night before. This saves so much time. After my son gets out of bed and goes to the bathroom, he immediately proceeds to get dressed. I don't have to worry about him taking forever to pick something out, or fumble around in the partial darkness of the morning to find something that matches. It's there, its ready, wear it.

Make for a quick departure. I put everything we need to run out the door in one place while my little man is eating breakfast. Jacket, check. Backback, check. Lunch in backpack, check. My purse, keys and phone. Check, check check.

This has really been working out well for us. If my son starts to dawdle or lag, I just remind him now nice it is to have a good morning where we are not yelling and screaming and running across the lawn to beat the bell. He immediately starts cooperating. He knows those days suck too.

What routines or processes seem to work for your family to get everyone out the door in the morning?