Okay, I know a lot of you are going to argue that this only works for me because I am a stay at home mom and don't have to get myself ready for work in the morning. You're right, that does eliminate a lot of stress, but I believe this concept can be adapted to any lifestyle and schedule.
I wanted to make a drastic change in the way my family interacted with each other, especially in the morning.
My goal was to help my family to start their days in a much quieter, more calm way than we have in the past. We usually have a mad dash to the car or bus filled with hollering and yelling, sometimes crying. My theory was that if I were more calm and organized and created a calm time to sit and enjoy a meal together before they all went their seperate ways, we might all start our days feeling more like a family unit and having a sense of peace and even happiness as we started our day. I figured the beginning of the school year was the perfect time to turn over a new leaf. I decided this was also a good chance to test the old adage of being the change you want to see.
This was how I planned to accomplish my goal:
I decided I would get up in the morning before everyone and make breakfast for my family, every day of the work week. This isn't always easy, as I have some chronic health issues that make it almost impossible for me to get more than 2 hours of sleep at night! But my plan was to give more on the front end and see if it made an impact on the back end in the form of better behavior and a more peaceful household.
So...every day I get up about 1/2 hour before the rest of the family and get something cooking. Some days it's just oatmeal and sausage, and other days I go all out and make French Toast, hash browns, and bacon. But I try my best everyday to "make" something for them to eat and for them to eat it together.
Well, it worked!
We have been using this new routine for the past 4 months and it has done wonders for my kids' attitudes and the way they interact with each other and with me. The really amazing part is that it seems to carry over to after school, too! The kids are far less likely to argue with each other in the morning, my husband is happier and is less likely to be running late for work. The part that has REALLY blown me away is that the kids are much more affectionate toward each other in the morning. They offer to help each other in getting ready and rarely need to be reminded to hug and kiss me when they say goodbye.
I was and still am floored by how well this experiment has worked!
I enjoy cooking for my family and always have. It's my way of hugging them on the inside, to paraphrase good ol' Mr.Wilford Brimley. I truly believe this is working for us because this simple act of service leaves everyone feeling loved and important. So even if you can't find a way to serve a family style meal every morning, find another way to show them that they are special and loved and see if it changes everything for your family like it did for mine.
I'd love to hear from you if you try an experiment like this!
;) Theresa
