Does this sound familiar? It’s 9am, and the floor is littered with toys, one child hasn’t started breakfast, another has been at the table for an hour, and a third is asking for another snack.
You’ve barely gotten started on your list for the day in the chaos swirling around you. You check the time in disbelief.
How can it be only 9 o’clock in the morning? So much has gone on, so much has been derailed, and almost the whole day stretches ahead of you. Ugh.
You need an introvert mother’s guide to sanity for your morning.
So let’s get started.
The power of choices
This kind of morning is cringe-inducing for introverts. Noise, chaos, things not going according to expectations – all great ways to wreck the day before it even gets going.
Let’s change this.
What can we do to stop chaos in its tracks and prioritize your well-being?
One, honor your introversion by shifting how you approach your day (planning, expectations, etc.).
Two, come at the day from the perspective of “I’m in charge” and see what changes.
Same morning: rebooted
How would this play out in the opening scenario?
Instead of reactionary helplessness, you step into your power as a parent and make change happen for your household. Specifically, you….
….Tell the kid who hasn’t eaten to take 15 minutes and fuel up.
….Grab the person who’s finished and asking for seconds and task them with picking up half the toys.
….Remove the kid who dragged out breakfast for an hour and tell him to pick up the other half of the toys.
….Take 15 minutes to knock out a couple things on your to-do list. (And let’s be realistic: use 5 of those minutes to keep the two toy-picker-uppers on task!)
What can you do to stop chaos in its tracks and prioritize your well-being?
Change is power
Now how does your morning look? It’s 9:15am, and…
…3 children have eaten breakfast.
….The floor is relatively tidy and ready to be walked on safely.
….You’re on a roll with your tasks for the day.
See how much better that is? In just 15 minutes, take back the power, identify what would turn around your day, and make it happen. (Preferably with the kids’ help.)
See the power of sanity-saving mornings, especially for introvert mothers?
Here’s to un-chaotic mornings!
