Let’s face it, mornings are difficult. Simply getting out of bed may seem like an enormous task on some days if you’re a burnt-out mother. It’s understandable that you rarely have time to breathe, let alone take care of yourself, with the responsibilities of the day, the kids’ demands (read tantrums) for breakfast, and the never-ending school drop-offs.
Creating a morning routine doesn’t necessarily need you to be up by 5 am, work out for an hour, or write down your innermost thoughts before anybody else wakes up. You deserve a morning free of chaos, so let's keep things straightforward and practical.
It’s tricky to face motherhood knowing that you’re inevitably going to feel weary and exhausted. But life goes on, and things need to be get done. Although motherhood comes with joy, fulfilment, love and contentment, the truth is that you have your fair share of responsibilities, tasks, worry, and dread.
A few mothers shared instances with us that have caused them to experience meltdowns, along with their stressors, how they have dealt with this over time and learnt to cope smarter.
‘With a three-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter, I’ve learned the hard way that how our morning goes pretty much decides how the rest of the day feels. And trust me, some mornings have knocked me out before it is even 9 am.
For instance, once my older son Vayu refused to wear anything except his dinosaur PJs which were wet. A full-blown tantrum is what unfolded over the next hour. I stood there half-dressed, trying to nurse Meera and calm him down at the same time. Other times, when we’re finally ready to leave for school —bags packed, shoes on —Meera decides on a massive diaper blowout. She’s giggling away while I’m quietly losing it.
Then there are mornings when everyone needs me - Vayu needs me to help find his socks, Meera’s fussing for milk, my coffee’s cold, and I still haven’t even brushed my teeth. It gets overwhelming fast, and sometimes, I just snap. Not out of anger, but from being so stretched thin.
And if we’re even five minutes behind schedule, one tiny hiccup (like Vayu rejecting his toast because it’s not ‘cut the right way’) can throw off everything.
What’s helped me stay sane and cope better over time:
• Getting things ready the night before.
• Laying out clothes (Vayu helps choose), prepping Meera’s bottles, packing bags, and picking my own outfit. This means fewer things to think about when I’m half-asleep in the morning.
• Making a simple morning chart for Vayu and summarising it in just 4 pictures: washroom related reminders, clothes, breakfast, and shoes. It helps him feel in control, and I don’t have to keep repeating instructions.
• Waking up 15 minutes prior to the rest of the family makes a huge difference.
• Easy breakfasts only: we rotate 2–3 favorites, which are fuss-free foods.
• Taking a deep breath before reacting.
The times I get overwhelmed, I take a quick pause before snapping or stressing further. This helps me respond better—even if the morning’s a major mess. Small but notable changes from my end have made a big difference. Mornings are still wild, but now they feel a little more doable!
- Avni Kataria
‘There’s a particular chaos reserved exclusively for mothers in the early hours of morning. It can feel like you are running on hot coals before the clock even hits 9 am. For many of us mothers, mornings are less a routine and more of a race. You are packing lunches, refereeing arguments, responding to, ‘Where’s my shoe?’ for the third time — and trying not to lose it over a spilled cereal. Over time, I adopted some small but powerful hacks which definitely do not make the chaos disappear — but they do make it bearable.
• Pack bags lay out uniforms and pre-decide breakfast options a night before. It saves you from decision fatigue at dawn.
• Try to wake up before everyone else. I find that quiet solo window of 15 minutes with coffee in hand, helps you wake up and be more present.
• As a daily routine, I put on some music that keeps things moving in sync with the soundtrack.
Honestly, some mornings are so absurd you have to laugh instead of crying over spoiled scrambled eggs. I keep reminding myself that this moment is not going to define my whole day. After sending everybody to school or office, I can get some exclusive time to myself.’
- Reena Verma (mother of 2 grown adults)