This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.
When I was a kid, my mom would get up, have her coffee while reading the paper, pay the bills, water her garden, make a few phone calls, cook me and my sister a hot breakfast, run 5K, learn a foreign language, discover life on another planet, and shave her legs all before 5:00AM. I, on the other hand, slept. And slept. And slept. And hit the snooze. And slept. And slept. And hit the snooze. Well, you get the idea. My mom would come in and whip the covers off me. I'd sleep. She flip up the window shades. I'd sleep. She spray my face with water. I'd sleep. She'd yell at me to get up. I'd sleep. She'd dump a bucket of water on me. I'd get up, but I wouldn't be happy about it and I'd make sure everyone with whom I came in contact experienced the full extent of my unhappiness.
Not much has changed. My mom still gets up before the birds. I still hit the snooze a dozen times before dragging my butt out of bed and shuffling through the house with my eyes closed. I'm thirty-ten years old. I'm pretty sure it's safe to assume I will never be one of those dreadful morning people. However, I have to admit, there's a part of me that would really like to be a morning person. I'd love to get up and have time to shower and dress before my kids woke up. I'd love to sit down with them and have a nice conversation over a hot, cooked-to-order breakfast. But that's never going to happen. I've accepted it. That's what dinner is for.
My mornings are always going to be rushed. I'm always going to wait until the last possible second to get out of bed. I'm probably always going to be less-than-pleasant in the morning. Hot breakfasts will always be reserved for weekends and special "Breakfast for Dinner" nights. But I'll still insist my kids eat something before heading off to school. Sometimes it's yogurt or a piece of fruit. Sometimes it's frozen waffles. Sometimes those waffles are even eaten frozen. Literally. Seriously, Clay ate a frozen waffle straight from the freezer and dipped in mayonnaise. Gag! But most often it's cereal. Cereal with milk is lower in calories than say, bacon & eggs, a croissant, or a bagel with cream cheese. Cereal is fortified with vitamins and minerals your kids need. In fact, I know my kids wouldn't come close to getting the recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals without their morning bowl of cereal most days.
I'd love to say that I make sure our mornings are chock-full of quality, bonding time, but it would be a big fat lie. I save the quality time for moments when I'm actually awake and functioning. Mornings are spent quietly rushing around, eating a quick breakfast, and getting out the door. Sometimes the kids even have their backpacks, glasses, homework, and shoes when they leave the house!
So, how do you make sure you spend quality time with your kids in the morning? What do you do to ensure your kids eat a healthy breakfast? For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, leave me a comment here and let me know how you start the day off on a positive note.
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Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit http://www.loveyourcereal.com/.
Creative Commons photo is from g_kat26's flickr stream
115 comments:
Me? My morning run best if I sleep until the baby wakes up...and don't wake up a second before ;)
I actually enjoy mornings.....to some extent. I get up at 6:30am (5am is alittle too early for me!) but I go downstairs and get my coffee and pack the kids lunches. Then I chill by myself until the kids get up. I make sure they are getting dressed and then they tell me what they want for breakfast.....cereal, fruit, pancakes, eggs.....the amount of time we have dictates what they can have. :) They usually have about 10-15 minutes to play after getting ready and eating breakfast. We hang out and chill until it's time to leave for the bus stop. I enjoy my mornings with them.
Jen :)
Love the pic...
I have tried morning breakfasts.. but I realise on thsoe days that I do get up early, I tend to do chores around the house than just sit and enjoy breakfast.
However, my daughter and I tend to eat our mornign fruit together now!
Bonding = dinner time.. thats when we both are in the mood for chitter chatter!
I would have to agree with Myrnie! My day starts no sooner than it has to! Luckily my husband takes care of the baby when he wakes up and the oldest boy fixes his own breakfast and wakes up on his own!
Im one of those annoying early birds. I get up at 5:20, put on the coffee, start breakfast, usually oatmeal or scrambled eggs. Make lunches, sandwiches, cut up fruit, a baked item for three. That was hubby and I have a half hour to talk about either yesterday, or what is up for today. He is off to work at 6:20, son is off around 6:40, daugher around 7. Time for second cup of coffee.
Since I am not a morning person either, I make sure breakfast is served by my husband. If I had to get the kids breakfast it wouldn't be considered quality time.
Hubby and I wake up at 6ish and watch the news/drink coffee for an hour before waking up the children. One is a morning person, she gets up easily and is pleasant to be around. The other? Well she sounds like you. I have to yell to get her out of bed, usually more than once (and she is only 9).
We have a strict routine and the kids know it. I also make sure that we have hot water in the kettle for oatmeal or tea if they want it.
I am not, by the way, a morning person.
Well, here we wake up at 630am and I start getting my oldest 6yo ready. Make breakfast quickly, usually cereal/yogurt/fruit/toast/bagels, that kind of thing and then he's off to catch the bus at 715am. I start this all over around this time when my middle child gets up and ready for preschool. I am not a morning person either...lol
I sleep until my 2 year old wakes up. Then I pull him into bed with me and pray to whomever is listening that he'll fall back asleep and I can get a couple more hours.
When he does decide it's time to be up for the day, I usually give him a bowl of microwave oatmeal with applesauce mixed in (gives him a fruit AND cools off the oatmeal so he doesn't have to sit there staring longingly at it while it cools off!). Some days he has a yogurt and toast, or toast and a banana. Every now and then he gets leftover mac and cheese or spaghetti-o's.
We do Zumba together to start off our school day and get all the wiggles out. Until I sprained my ankle.
I signed up for PM kinder...no I signed my kinder up for PM kinder and thus we have lovely mornings...well at least not rushed...this year :)
Your mornings sound exactly like mine! Every single night I tell myself, "tomorrow will be different" NOPE.
I do like bringing my younger two into bed to snuggle when they wake up. My oldest wakes up rearing to go (didn't get that from me!) but the two little ones need some snuggle time. And I always have my cup of coffee!
I make sure I'm up before the kids get up and have breakfast ready to serve when they get out of bed.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@yahoo.com
It's hard during the weekdays but I usually talk to them while they are eating breakfast (usually cereal, pop tart or oatmeal)and discuss their day
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/25176660429
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Quality time in the morning? I'm not sure I understand that concept.
I don't do mornings. My contribution to healthy breakfasts consists of going to the grocery store to buy cereal, oatmeal, and milk during the week. Waking up with the kids, talking to them, seeing them off to school... That's more my husband's area.
The way I make sure I spend quality time with the kids is by sleeping through most the morning so I can do quality time in the afternoon and evenings.
I get up at least 20 minutes before my kids so I can have a few minutes to myself. I try and get 15 minutes with each of my girls every morning while doing their hair.
linda_bauman@msn.com
My boys and I always talk in the car on our way to school.....what we expect for the day, how we're feeling, etc. It's only a 5 minute car ride, but I LOVE that little bit of talking time. Then we all walk to our classes together and I can't even look near their direction or they'd die of embarassment :)
Pre bedtime routine. Set a timer for 15 min, Everyone lays out their clothes (including shoes and socks) gets backpack(and/or anything else they might need) set and ready to go. In the morning I get up 15 min before everyone else I get dressed for the day with the clothes I had out and get breakfast starte while everyone else gets dressed. Just 15 min on either side makes a world of difference!
Yes - morning people are dreadful- they mock us night owls. I don't have kids, but to make sure I have a healthy breakfast I shop carefully and always have fresh fruit and cereal available!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
I am NOT a morning person. Thankfully I am retired. My daughter is grown, but I used to make sure we had oatmeal or cereal in the house at all times to make sure she got a healthy breakfast. And juice.
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com
Tweet! http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/25194565066
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
laureni used to be a morning person. now i have toddlers that still don't sleep through the night. So, i'm TIRED in the morning.
we save the bonding time for evenings at the dinner table.
Breakfast, that's usually bisquits (that the oldest fixed when HE woke up early), waffles, cereal, or oatmeal.
I drive my kids to school every morning. Our bonding time is in the van. Thats when they really open up to me about things that are happening in school (since school is on their mind..lol). I learn more in the 15 minutes it takes to get to school than I do in the 4 hours I get home after work/school. Amazing!!
I am like you and not a morning person. Our mornings are usually spent rushing too, but we do have a few moments where my two daughters and I are all getting ready together. Sometimes they love on each other; sometimes they fight. You just never know what mornings will bring at our house.
I can't say that I really focus on having a positive interaction in the morning...all of us sleep as late as we possibly can without having my daughter be late to school. We're all just rushing around like crazy people, basically. I do try to remember to tell her to have a good day and kiss her goodbye! I do make sure she eats a good breakfast, even if she has to finish it in the car. :)
kt1969 at comcast dot net
I make sure and set my alarm to have time to shower before the kids are up, then i am awake enough to have my coffee and visit with them as they prepare for their day. Weekends however, we can bond later in the day!
I wake up an hour before the kids and get their breakfast prepared for them. I sit with them at breakfast and chat about what they'll be doing in school that day.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
I'm trying to do better with getting up, showered and dressed before the kids wake up, but so far it hasn't been going well. To make up for the fact that I'm staggering around and monosyllabic most of the morning, I follow my mom's rule about mornings. No one leaves our house w/o at least one hug & kiss. It might not be "quality" time, but you are loved.
I try to get up earlier than they do, and get my morning all sorted out...before everyone wakes up!
I try to do a great job at breakfast in the mornings, but sometimes...not so good!
My youngest is a MorningGlory, but all the rest of us are Slugabeds. Hubby gets up and acts as a human alarm clock for all the rest of us (including me). I get ready for work while Hubby takes the youngest to school (if I'm lucky I see them for a hug) - I have no idea what the youngest eats, but his lunch period is at 10:45am so I'm not too worried (about him being hungry in the morning).
The teens (girls, 14 and 15, and boy 17 yr) rarely eat. They might slam down dinner leftovers if it was good (pizza), but most of the time they whine about stomach aches and there being no "good food" in the house.
So I would love to be picked for the $100 gift card. I promise to use most of it to buy "good food."
Mary in TX
No kids. I start the day with a smoothie. Thanks for the contest.
blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/09/win-100-week-2.html
If I don't make breakfast my daughter will not make it for herself. So I make sure to get her breakfast ready so she can eat.
I try to get the kids input so they enjoy their breakfasts, it makes it run smoother - they only get their choice suger cereals on Saturdays (can't watch Saturday morning cartoons without a bowl of sugar!), so they are okay with healthier selections during the week.
I am a morning person so I am up before anyone else and have my bowl of cereal in peace and quiet. I can look forward to each new day and the joys and challenges it will bring My kids were breakfast eaters and I always had time to fix breakfast for them
Oh the weekdays, there is no such thing as quality time....we are all rushing to get out the door by 7am....but we do have a big family breakfast on Saturday mornings after we've all slept in after a long week.
I get up before the kids to get myself together, then I am able to devote myself entirely to them. I ensure they get a good breakfast by offering them choices -- letting them pick the kind of cereal they want or maybe what kind of topping on a bagel.
HobartsMama {AT} AOL.COM
I prep everything the night before so our mornings run smoother! This gives us a few minutes to chat and eat breakfast together before my daughter heads up to the bus! She always hears I love you before she leaves too!!
bleatham*at*gmail.com
tweet
http://twitter.com/sleatham1/status/25287176438
bleatham*at*gmail.com
I start by trying to be quiet in the morning to meditate! everyone has to eat a little something for breakfast to get their bodies on track
kmassman gmail
We have 5 kids to get out the door in the morning, so having clothes laid out, lunches made and a healthy but quick breakfast is vital. After we get the "work" part done, we may even have time for the kids to watch a show.
Human children? In the mornings, I usually give my four-legged kiddos rub downs - they wiggle with delight and it brightens my morning. I like to think it's good for everyone.
shutterboo at gmail dot com
They always have breakfast... usually cereal or waffles.
I have two teenages daughters now, so I expect them to get up and get their own breakfast, which is usually Cereal or toaster waffles, and I have learned to not speak unless spoken to, and to stay out of the way. Haha.....
My mornings go best when I get up before the kids and get my shower. Then I am ready to greet them and get them started on their day.
I occasionaly put peanut butter on the kids pop tart.. thats healthy right.. I sadly am not a morning person.. I do try to catch up with the kids right after school though
I'm one of those morning people you love to hate :-) I get up before the kids and either run or shower then get breakfast stuff out and start coffee. I wake kids up and we eat together before I start exhorting them to get ready for school.
We have a family prayer where we ask for specific help during the day for each person in our family. Sometimes it happens in the car though if we are running late!
Thanks,
Nichole
nikkilynnbeck@yahoo.com
A hot bubble bath,a hot coffee and a smile from my son always wakes me up on the positive side.
Thank you for this chance and have a blessed day
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
I turn on the radio and beautiful music help me feel good and fresh.
natatheangel at yahoo dot com
I am early bird and can't sleep long even on weekends. I read news, drink my coffee, kiss my wife and that give me enough energy to go through the day.
jdrombo AT yahoo DOT com
tweet
http://twitter.com/Grandma3710/status/25353461820
I'm totally NOT a morning person either. I sleep at least another 30 to 40 minutes after my husband gets up when his alarm goes off. (I could sleep longer, but he wakes me up). Fortunately, the kids don't start school until 9:15 this year rather than 8am like they used to. I'm grumpy in the morning so our morning routine usually consists of me telling the kids over and over again to eat breakfast, brush their teeth and hair, get their lunchboxes and backpacks and get their butts in the van before I get really angry. Mornings are just NOT fun around here, unless I promise to stop for donuts on the way to school if they hurry. Then it's better but I only do that once or twice a month. Can't let them eat that all the time.
i offer my son about 5 choices every morning, and he's not allowed to eat any junk until he eats his breakfast!
...
get a lot of sleep the night before and then cereal time!
evil_eva12 at hotmail dot com
My kids are grown but when they were young planning (by the kids) was key.
http://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/25372070646
I like to start my morning off with fruit, cereal and cottage cheese, then it's off to the gym for me!
I don't have kids, but I make sure that I get my breakfast (after coffee) so that I can have a good attitude at work :0)
Planning the night before is key. If I want muffins the next day, I'll mix all the dry ingredients together and group the wet ingredients next to each other in the fridge. I'll think ahead: sometimes I'll pop the muffins in before I shower, sometimes I have to wait until after my shower. It's all in the planning!
I try to help them make good choices in the morning on what to eat to help them get through until lunch time. We usually talk a bit over breakfast and go over some last minute studying if needed.
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/25462519692
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
We make sure to kiss and hug before we're out the door! scg00387 at yahoo dot com
http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/25462961058 scg00387 at yahoo dot com
I'm up and out the door for work before the kids get up for school. hubby takes care of the morning routine. On the weekends though is when I try to have a real quality breakfast with the boys.
angiewith3 at live dot com
Rt'd giveaway: http://twitter.com/angiewith3/status/25540297274
angiewith3 at live dot com
I get myself up 1/2 hour early so I can get dressed without interuptions. While the children are getting dressed I make breakfast. I eat breakfast with them and we talk about the day and them it's off to school.
s2s2 at comcast dot net
http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/25541544631
To make sure my day starts right - A smiling baby, a kiss from my hubby, a small prayer and a huge cup of coffee! Breakfast for the baby always - for me....well, that may be optional.
Melanie
mel2266@gmail.com
I ensure my kids get a good breakfast by going over with them what they would like (within limits) and that makes them happy! And it makes things go smoother to have things ready to go the night before.
CalifKitties (AT) aol.com
i start out on a positive note by having a cup of coffee
I feed my baby food that I make myself. He also eats finger food now and his eggs come from his Nana's farm where I know they are fresh and horomone free!
laprochaine at gmail dot com
Tweet, http://twitter.com/laprochaine/status/25555965850
laprochaine at gmail dot com
They are not allowed to start homeschool unless they have eaten breakfast. We are together all day so we have good times all day long!
leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com
tweet tweet!
http://twitter.com/leahforlove/status/25558410851
leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com
I LET MY KIDS PLAY WITH THEIR FOOD AS LONG AS IT INVOLVES FRUIT IN THE MORNING LOL kytah00@yahoo.com
TWEETED THE GIVEAWAY @ http://twitter.com/kytah00/status/25559985237 kytah00@yahoo.com
BLOGGED AS WELL! http://hypnoticblend.blogspot.com/p/sponsored-giveaways.html kytah00@yahoo.com
my children are all grown and not at home so I can enjoy my mornings with coffee and cereal.
marybug2@yahoo.com
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/marybug2/status/25600416975
marybug2@yahoo.com
We get ready for Morning the night before.I start out with Coffee, hunny toast, and CNN news. Than I wake everybody else up.
Don't have kids but I do make the day start off well by saying good morning with a smile and eating a delicious and healthy breakfast such as oatmeal or cereal with fruit is a given. Also, I always play music to get out of bed and do a dance do one song. It energizes everyone for the day when you play a great positive song and shake it! :) deeg131 at gmail com
http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/25608153166
tweeted! deeg131 at gmail dot com
We all hugs, I make them lunch and put in a note in their lunchbags, and we eat breakfast together. Thanks!
shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/lipstickncandy/status/25608512784
shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com
tweeted! http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/25608750620
deeg131 at gmail dot com
I don't have children, but, if I did I would prepare a good breakfast for all of us. Then they'd follow by example.
scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com
Tweet
http://twitter.com/LuigiFranco/status/25609214963
scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com
blogged :)
http://deegee13.xanga.com/733343845/breakfast-campaign-giveaways/
deeg131 at gmail dot com
Ugh..mornings. When I want to have a good day, I wake up 15 minutes before I get my 14 year old daughter out of bed and have a Diet Coke and relax before the chaos starts. My daughter is not the most pleasant person in the morning and it's a bad combo if I'm cranky too....much better for me to psych myself up for 15 minutes before she gets out of bed.
I'm also a huge breakfast pusher...that's my one pet peeve..making sure my daughter eats breakfast before she leaves the house.
shel704 at aol dot com
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/25613756085
shel704 at aol dot com
We make sure to have a nutritious breakfast (i.e. oatmeal, cereal, banana, yogurt, toast, etc.) with no junk food or candy! That makes for a great start to the day!
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
When my step-daughter was school aged, I made sure she got up in plenty of time to get ready and have a good breakfast. We always organized her clothes and back pack the night before so she could maximize her morning time and get off to a good start.
http://twitter.com/fostertam/status/25623344330
I like for them to have a hot breakfast in the morning even if it is warming up the milk for the usually cold cereal and then I drive them to school to see them off.
gmissycat@yahoo.com
I make sure we get up early enough to have breakfast together before we leave for the day.
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/25650593239
We make sure we get up early enough to not be rushed through a healthy breakfast, sitting down together and an I Love you. uheeter at comcast.net
My son is only 2 so I ensure he has a healthy breakfast by choosing the right foods for him. I make sure he gets proteins, carbs and fruit!
newmommyin08 AT yahoo DOT com
Tweet
http://twitter.com/royaldixie/status/25687954792
newmommyin08 AT Yahoo DOT com
my kids and i say affirmations to get us going in the mornings
rmartinclarke at gmail dot com
We make sure to leave enough time in the morning to do what we need to do. It's just not worth extra snooze to be rushing around and curt with each other.
http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/25695541500
Thank you!
We wake up really early to do a non-rushed morning. We rock out to music post well-rounded breakfast.
lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com
Quality time in the morning??? I can't even come up with a good lie for that question. We are not morning people. The goal is to get out and get to school with as little fuss as possible. There is plenty of time in the afternoon and evenings for quality time.
But I do cater to their breakfast needs. My daughter can't eat before getting on the bus and the healthy, homemade muffins I used to give her made too many crumbs in her purse, so I've given up and let her take a bagel every day. My son gets 2 PopTarts, Instant Breakfast, 2 strips of bacon, and a glass of milk every day to tide him over until lunchtime- LOL.
bsw529 at gmail dot com
I tweeted http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/25701756416
bsw529 at gmail dot com
Quality time with my kids go by pretty fast cause they are always running late--seems like someone is always holding up the bathroom :)
marci
tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com
I get up early because of neccessity, though left to my own devices I wouldn't wake up till noon.
I get everyone, breakfast served and out the door. Cereal and granola bars are a godsend on busy mornings. Pop Tarts are also helpful in a pinch.
Then after everyone leaves I have a quiet moment to read my newspaper and drink my coffee.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
I enjoy sitting in my favorite chair & having the sunlight shining in the window while I soak in the word from the Son of God...my personal devotions help to start my day right!
~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com
http://twitter.com/tigergal01/status/25721284248
tweet
~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com
i try to start each morning off well aleast 10 mins of me just to think and relax because i woke up the kids. then i get then in time to have a nice breakfast.
purple_lover_04 at msn dot com
i tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/25744959897
Plenty of Sleep but since that never happens I make sure the kids have plenty of sleep
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/jjudy04/status/25747993638
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