Theme of the Week: Betting Better
Bible Verse: Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place? Job 38:12
Scripture Reading: Psalm 30:1-12
Why do mornings seem so difficult? For parents, especially working parents, there is typically so much to do in a short period of time.
Dads, if you don’t already, it’s time to help your wife out with the morning routine. “Morning is the time in which temperamental differences may be most evident – the child who is slow to get going clashes with the mother or father who is fast-paced. Or the child who is crabby clashes with the parent who is also crabby,” say authors Ellen Galinsky and Judy David in their book The Preschool Years.
Mornings also provide the perfect opportunity for children to assert their individuality. With the clock ticking for work and meetings, this is the prime time for power struggles.
Here are a few tips if your children are struggling with a new morning routine:
- Leave room for unhurried moments. Make sure everybody has enough sleep and rises early enough to avoid rushing. Give yourselves time for some unhurried moments together. Dads, this is a great time to remind your kids about what you expect and maybe even share an encouraging Bible verse.
- Complete chores the night before. To make the morning routine less stressful, do things the night before. After dinner, for example, prepare lunch boxes and leave them in the fridge overnight.
- Set reasonable expectations. Expect your children to do what they are capable of. For example, washing and dressing themselves if they are old enough. This may be an unreasonable expectation for a younger child. Set one task at a time to make expectations seem more attainable. Setting expectations is key!
Morning Challenge: How can you as a husband be more helpful in the mornings with your kids? Pick a few things that you know your wife would value your help with and then do them each day. Talk about what’s working and not working with the morning routine. Step up, men!
— Sam Casey, Content Editor for Uncommen
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