It doesn't matter if I wake up at 4am or 7am. Either way, my kids are going to wake up with me.
Somehow they have this sixth sense that I'm up and about in the mornings, and they don't want to miss out. So I stopped waking up early. Instead of trying to beat their clock and deprive myself of sleep, I focus my efforts on learning how to do life with my kids.
Three things I do every morning to fill my cup and theirs
1Greet the day with gratitude
As soon as I open my eyes, I stay lying in bed for a few extra minutes and think of a few things I'm grateful for in this new day. It's a simple practice that helps me approach the day with a joyful heart.
If my kids are actively trying to get me out of bed and started with the day, I pull them into my arms and we practice this gratitude greeting together: "What are three things you are grateful for today?"
2Eat a good meal
Breakfast was one of those meals I would skip as a new mom, because it felt like too much work to take care of myself and my kids. That would turn into eating the kids' leftovers for lunch and snacking on random finds throughout the day.
It wasn't until the beginning of 2025 that I decided to prioritize my nutrition, and I noticed a change in my mood immediately. I've found a way to take care of my meals and the kids' meals without carving too much into our morning time. Three ways I do this:
- I teach the kids how to serve breakfast themselves.
- I told my husband how hard mornings had felt lately, and he offered to cook breakfast on certain days.
- I premake simple meals like chia pudding and oats.
By nourishing our bodies in the morning, I find more energy to go about the day.
3Create before consuming
Another lesson I learned in 2025 is to start the day with creativity rather than consumption. This goes beyond scrolling on my phone. It means no longer reading or listening to podcasts first thing in the morning, either.
While my children get creative with their morning basket activities, I use that time to develop my own creativity. Some days it's writing, other days it's painting or crafting with my kids. This time and space lets me activate my mind and put my ideas into action.
Start your own morning basket
If you want a simple way to create before you consume, my free First Morning Basket is a printable starter pack with a coloring page, a cut-and-paste activity, a color match activity, and a simple guide to get you going.
Get the free First Morning BasketWhat habit do you love to do in the morning?
With Joy,
Lauren
Mom of three and creator of Joy of Creative Play
