EBN- Mornings are a crucial time in a family’s life, especially before heading to school. In those few hours, the atmosphere can be chaotic and stressful, or it can be an opportunity to build warm and loving memories.
Becky Mansfield, a parenting writer, shares a simple but effective rule she calls the “preschool rule” that makes mornings go more smoothly and positively.
Morning.. a golden opportunity to sow reassurance
Mansfield stresses that the most important thing parents can focus on in the morning hours is not to be strict about punctuality or to make sure their children look perfect. Instead, the goal should be to send children off feeling reassured and happy, so they can start their day with confidence.
Mornings can be full of unexpected surprises; a toddler suddenly needs to change clothes or another is looking for his lost shoes. However, the writer believes that the most important thing is how to deal with these small moments and avoid turning them into a source of stress or screaming.
The basic rule: “No morning grumbling.”
Mansfield explains her rule of thumb: Every morning, I vow not to nag, complain, or blame my kids for anything that isn’t about their safety.
Keeping that promise can seem like a challenge, especially during stressful times when pressure is building. But she says it’s worth the effort.
Instead of criticizing or scolding children, Mansfield suggests rescheduling discussions about unacceptable behavior until the afternoon, when the atmosphere is more relaxed, allowing for calm, constructive discussion.
Why do we focus on the positive moments in the morning?
Mansfield points out that the words children hear in the morning shape a large part of their thoughts throughout the day. If the day starts with screaming or stress, children may carry that feeling with them to school, where it can increase their fears and anxiety about daily challenges such as:
Dealing with unfriendly colleagues.
Anxiety about answering difficult questions in class.
Feeling lonely during break time.
Therefore, providing a calm and comfortable morning environment helps children face their day with confidence and calm.
Mansfield finds that giving things some time makes morning problems seem less important. After school is over and everyone is away from the morning stress, it’s easier to calmly discuss what happened and find appropriate solutions.
It also reminds us that this stage of our lives as parents is a passing phase, and that the moments we live now will become precious memories in the future. So, we must make sure that these memories are filled with love and warmth.
Finally, Mansfield urges all parents to change their view of school mornings. Instead of focusing on the daily hassles, we need to remember that our children need to leave the house feeling positive and hopeful. What matters to them is not the perfect outfit or the time, but the feeling of being surrounded by support and love.
