Raise your hand if you do just about the same things each weekday morning without fail. Keep your hand up if you are a mom. Keep your hand up if your offspring are still living with you. Keep it up if those kids are under the age of ten. Raise it even higher if said children use step stools at the bathroom sink. Maintain your position if there must be a blue straw, blue bowl, glass cup and metal spoon set neatly on the table before breakfast can be eaten.
Okay, everyone can still listen, but I’m really talking to those with their hands still held high. I’m with you. I get it and it annoys the living daylights out of me. Sometimes I think to myself, is this a simple routine or does my child have a severe case of OCD? I’m leaning towards OCD lately.
Let me explain the situation…
It’s 6:15am, and Zoe (5) tells me she is hungry. Sweet. What do you want for breakfast, Zo? Cereal? Really? I wasn’t sure since you have cereal E-VER-Y-DAY of your life. Oh, you’ll get it all out? Thanks for that. Yep, the blue bowl lives in the same drawer where you find it every morning. Sure, of course you can pour the milk in. Carry it over to the table? Okay, just be careful.
Oh gosh, you spilled a little?
No problem, it’s just milk, I’ll get a towel, no need to cry. (I begin to wipe up the spilled milk.) You want to wipe it up yourself? Go ahead. Oh, you actually can’t wipe it up yourself and you need me to do it? (Now I wan’t to cry.) Okay, here, I’ll get it. Milk to drink? Oh of course! Who doesn’t want milk in their cereal and then more milk to drink? All righty, here you go. A napkin? Right, I almost forgot.
(Ten minutes later.)
Okay, great, yes, I see that you’ve finished. Can you please put your bowl in the sink? You think you might spill if you carry it over there? I see. Okay then, you should probably drink the milk from your cereal bowl so it doesn’t spill. That’s too much milk? Oh, that’s right, you had that glass of milk, too, that you already drank. I see, I see. I still think you can walk carefully without spilling that little bit cereal milk out of your bowl. Just give it a try. Yay! Look, you did it!
(Three minutes later…I kid you not.)
You’re still hungry? What would you like? No, sweetie, marshmallows are not a good breakfast food. Sorry, I’d rather you did not have fruit snacks this early either. How about an apple? Blueberries? Yogurt smoothie? None of those? Okay then, look around then let me know what you would like.
You want Pancakes?
Are you kidding me right now? I’m sorry, honey, I can’t make pancakes this morning. It’s nothing to get upset about. Maybe we can have pancakes tomorrow, you just have to help me remember in the morning. So, do you have another idea of what you would like to eat? (Long pause.) Oh, you’re actually not hungry anymore? Cool. You can go downstairs and play. (Deep breaths, as I attempt to quickly get the dishes done.)
In strolls child number two…
What’s that little buddy? Oh, you’re ready for breakfast now? How about (drum roll, please…) oatmeal? Whoa, whoa settle down there tiger. I’m excited for your oatmeal too…thatyoueateverymorning. Yes, you can pour the oatmeal in. Yep, you can press the button on the microwave. Okay, get your spoon and bowl. No, we don’t have a red bowl, (and we never have) I’m sorry. We have other colors you like, just pick one. Green? Perfect choice!
Yes, you can get in your seat now, but the oatmeal has to cool off. Yes, Milo, that noise was the microwave beeping. I just need to get the oatmeal cooled off. Nope, it’s still too hot. Just a minute, buddy. Okay, here you are, let me get your bib. Yes, you are going to wear a bib. Until you can eat your oatmeal without spilling you get a bib. All right, go ahead. It’s all cooled off. Oh, it’s still hot? Let me check. Nope, it’s ready, go ahead. A wipe? It’s sticky? Got it, just a moment. Here you go. Can I help you with that? You can do it? Okay then.
(Fifteen minutes later.)
Milo, are you finished? You can’t get the last bites? Sure, I can help you. Okay, one more bite. Good, got it! Please, stay here so I can wipe you up. No, don’t get down yet, just let me get a cloth. Okay, you’re all set. (I take his bowl to the sink to wash it.) What do you need, Milo? Nope, that’s the snack drawer and you just ate breakfast, don’t even think about it. No cheese crackers right now. You can have a pouch if you really think you’re still hungry. No, I’m sorry, you ate all the red ones. How about green? Good? Okay, let me open it. Here you go, stay in the kitchen, please. No, you can’t take it downstairs. Nope, please don’t take it to the couch. All done? Throw it away in the one with the note, okay? (Bin for recycling.) Okay, go play with sissy. No, I can’t hold you right now, I need to do the dishes. I’ll come down when I’m done. Yes, I’ll bring my coffee down and sit in the playroom. Yes, you can sit with me when I get down there. (Deep breaths as I actually do the dishes this time.)
It’s true what they say about kids needing consistency.
I’m not sure who actually said that, so don’t ask me, but I do know that it’s spot-on for my kids. These routines will become habits and if we help our kids to create positive habits, like eating a healthy breakfast every morning, we are doing them a favor. So, we will follow our routine, however repetitious it may be.
Isn’t it funny…
As parents, we find ourselves questioning the simple tasks of everyday life only to realize that these simple, everyday tasks are actually creating happy and healthy little humans. Also, it’s not all that hard to do. It may be infuriating at some (or many) times, but I think we can trudge through and look back fondly one day, right? Pat yourselves on the back, MomSoldier friends…and try not to cry over spilt milk.
Being a stay at home mom with small children can make life seem like a version of Groundhog Day, the movie. Oddly enough, consistency is key!
