I have made school mornings easier by putting breakfast out

[PrunellaMcTat]

I realise this wouldn't be for everyone, but it's really made a positive difference for us.

Before:
16yo dd moping about saying she can't face breakfast.
14yo ds in the kitchen frying eggs and making a mess.
10yo dd eating her body-weight in sugary crap cereal.

So I changed it a bit and now when everyone gets up (about 20 minutes after me) breakfast is out on the table. I do something different every morning, it's very simple, no choice, just sit down and eat what's there. They love it!

This week was:
M - croissants and jam and milo
T - porridge and fruit
W - brioche toast
Th - Yogurt and fruit
F - Eggy bread

I put out a hot drink, a bottle of OJ or water, and their vitamins.

It takes me 5 minutes, and they clear it all up when they're done. Everyone has been so much more cheerful in the morning. I've been doing it for a few weeks now - I include 5 simple breakfast choices along with my big weekend shop. It hasn't cost any more. The teens have even been getting up to join in breakfast on flexible learning days (when they don't have to be at school).

I thought that was pretty normal. Maybe this is why I’m not part of the frantic hate-the-mornings crowd. (More likely to be because my kids still wake at 6 and we don’t have to leave til 8:30, so loads of time 🤣🙄)

This is the best thing I've read today - thanks for sharing

Sounds great. I leave the house before anyone is up so no idea what they eat! But they are 16 and 18 so capable of doing it themselves!

Same here 😂
I poured my DS a bowl of cereal the other week, but left the milk off until he came down to put it on himself as otherwise the cats would have it...Came back to the kitchen a few minutes later to DH chucking the cereal as one of the cats had been eating it like cat biscuits.

Wow I'm impressed! My kids have always made their own breakfast, load the dishwasher before they leave. I just buy healthy stuff and they eat it. Otherwise they go hungry and they've learned that doesn't feel good. By the time they've done that I've just about rolled out of bed.

Great idea though for people who don't have morning people!

Don't people do this already?? Sorry, I'm puzzled at this revelation.

Sounds lovely but I would have a major rebellion on my hands if I tried to get my two teens to eat breakfast like that, they'd just go without. We've all been very happily sorting our own breakfasts for many years. If we all got up and tried to eat at the same time we'd probably all want to go in the bathroom at the same time too which would be a recipe for chaos.

I love this, good ideas

Yeah I don’t understand this. So… you make breakfast for your children before they go to school…? Okay?

I honestly thought it was the norm for everyone to get their own as soon as the DCs are old enough.

Those of you who are puzzled or who can’t understand those of us who don’t do this already. Some of us have very different and changeable routines so couldn’t physically do this.

I work shifts so sometimes I am not here or haven’t got to bed till early hours. if I had a regular routine for example up at 7, then I probably would do similar.

When they were small I obviously had to get up do school or nursery run. They had breakfast at before school club so I could sleep after a night shift. They wouldn’t have appreciated getting up earlier than that to have home breakfast.

My dcs are not morning or breakfast people.

we do eat other meals together with whoever is home.

For those whose kids put the bowls in the dishwasher when finished, when do you unload the dishwasher? We put ours on at around 9pm and I usually don’t have time to empty it till I get home from work.

My two 10 Yr olds lay breakfast the night before. Cereals, spreads, water etc. They do their own bfast and make me a cup of tea in bed or for while I'm doing my workout. The other one feeds the pets. Alternate weekly.

I realised a year ago when I had severe covid that they could do far more for themselves than I was allowing them to.

Well done OP

I used to have a plan with my DDs, most days were yoghurt, fruit and homemade granola but if they wanted pancakes I would make them the night before. That worked well for us.

On the dishwasher point, they don't use it for bfast stuff as i make them wash and dry up!

Thank feck for breakfast club at school

They take turns to empty the dishwasher.

We put the dishwasher on at night, and I empty it first thing in the morning, after I’ve fed the animals and whilst waiting for the kettle to boil.

Then it’s empty to be filled up from breakfast onwards.

@elevenduck well no, they weren’t doing porridge at 4, just cereal. But they were doing porridge from about 6 or 7? It’s not exactly rocket science is it. They’re not slaving over the hob, they’re whacking a packet of oats and some milk in a microwave for 2 minutes.

shock horror - the 10 year old has got into making themselves a hot chocolate every weekend too.

I think I need to change jobs. This sounds lovely. Currently I run out the door just after 7 dumping children at grandparents. WFH seems to have many perks.

Also confused by the confused OPs - mine make their own, we make their dinner already, not waiting on them dawn til dusk! I’m also still at work while they are having breakfast usually.

Wowsers! DO they have to dry your hair too?

@NoSquirrels that sort of dishwasher routine is one very small but I think very worthy goal of mine. One day I’ll manage to do it more than the odd lucky day!

Love this! What a great idea

Yes, mine (9,11 & 14) all make their own breakfast and get themselves ready for school, whilst i get ready for work. Dd2 even makes everyone's sandwiches. I come down when it's time to drink some coffee and take DD3 to school. The others leave 30 mins before that