Monday, Monday

Don't skip breakfast to start the day. But read our tips on how to start the day without catastrophe.

Happy Monday! Happy start of the new work week!
 
Oh, come in. It isn’t that bad.
 
Getting ready to face Monday morning ― or any new day in the work/school week ― just requires organization and preparation. A routine, in other words. Here’s a simple organization guideline to follow, and it starts the day before.
 
Undoubtedly, you got all caught up on the laundry over the weekend. Don’t bother putting it all away. Instead, dedicate a drawer, or a shelf or even a box for the clothes for the upcoming week. Stack the Friday clothes on the bottom ― socks and undergarments included ― and that way the kids’ clothes are ready to go for the week.
 
With that out of the way, Sunday night will be easy. The steps:

• Pack lunches for both yourself and the kids. Put a sticky note on the door you exit in the morning as a reminder to grab them from the fridge when you walk out the door.

• Pack the diaper bag or backpack ― whatever the case is ― with all the necessities. Diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for baby; homework, show and tell, book to return to the school library in the backpack. (Plus anything you need to bring to TSL Adventures!)
• Start collecting things you’ll need later in the week and put them in the area where you keep the backpacks so you’re prepared. Need an art smock for Wednesday? A canned good for the school food drive on Thursday? Have them ready.
• Don’t forget to pack your briefcase, too, and remember to slip in that important report you reviewed over the weekend. They’re easy to forget in the Monday-morning rush.
• Prepare for afterschool activities. Soccer practice after school? Put the cleats and soccer clothes in the car the night before.

 
Then on Monday morning:

• Wake up before the kids so you have some time to gather your thoughts for the day and start getting ready. Quiet time is always needed.
• Don’t skip breakfast. But before breakfast, get the kids partially dressed. Leave the pajama tops or an old T-shirt on but put on bottoms, socks. (If your daughter is wearing a dress, put a big T-shirt over it!) You won’t have to find a new outfit in case of spills. That way, all you have is a quick finish to dressing, brushing teeth, gathering backpacks or diaper bags and hitting the road.

 
Wasn’t that easy?