Recently, a popular magazine showcased the morning rituals of twelve accomplished women. Their routines often featured luxurious elements such as:
- “4:45 AM: Wake up and indulge in a bowl of quinoa cereal before an hour of Ashtanga yoga.”
- “6:43 AM: Alarm rings; no snooze allowed. Slip into comfy sweatpants and clogs.”
- “6:50 AM: Brew fair trade coffee and microwave a vegan muffin for breakfast.”
- “6:45 AM: Head to the home gym for an invigorating workout.”
- “6:45 AM: Pour coffee, prepare breakfast, and enjoy some quiet time with the news or my phone, often accompanied by a smoothie or oatmeal.”
While these high-powered women enjoy their warm coffee and peaceful yoga sessions, the reality for many moms is quite different. I chatted with a few friends to uncover their morning routines, and it’s clear that our mornings often resemble anything but those featured in the magazine.
1. Jenna Clark, Freelance Writer and Mother of Two
6:00 AM: Wake up to the sound of my iPhone alarm. Choose between peace and productivity, but let’s be honest—it’s more like groans and eye rolls.
6:30 AM: Shuffle to the bathroom, sometimes skipping the shower entirely. Throw on the nearest pair of sweatpants.
7:00 AM: Head downstairs to let the dog out, only to step in a puddle of dog pee. Clean up the mess while preparing breakfast. Forget the kale smoothie; it’s cereal and a banana today.
7:15 AM: Check the twins’ backpacks for spare underwear—none found. They do, however, have a toy carrot and a rubber chicken. Run upstairs for a last-minute search.
7:30 AM: Wake the twins for preschool. Repeat everything twice as they dawdle over breakfast. “Please eat!” becomes a mantra, with me shouting internally, “How is eating cereal so difficult?”
8:15 AM: Finally wrangle everyone into the car. Break up sibling squabbles as I gulp down coffee—oh look, I forgot to have breakfast again.
2. Lila Brooks, New Mom with a Baby
4:30 AM: Baby cries. Insert pacifier, hoping for peace. It falls out multiple times.
5:00 AM: Feed the baby while mentally drafting a plan for a service that delivers coffee and donuts to new moms. Today’s goal: definitely snag a donut.
5:30 AM: The baby is still awake. As I change her diaper, I sense she’s ready to embrace the day, but not with coffee.
6:30 AM: Hand the baby to her well-rested father, who’s enjoying a leisurely breakfast while I feel slightly envious.
7:00 AM: Shower at lightning speed, convinced I hear the baby crying—turns out it was just my sleep-deprived imagination.
7:15 AM: Celebrate my outfit choice of the day—a sweatshirt and spit-up stained sweatpants.
7:30 AM: Pack the essentials for a day trip from bedroom to living room, including three pacifiers and 17 diapers. Oh, and there’s a donut in the fridge—“Carpe Diem!”
3. Amy Davis, Working Mom and Blogger
6:00 AM: Alarm rings. Hit snooze and snuggle deeper under the covers.
6:30 AM: Alarm goes off again. Start scrolling through social media while my partner makes breakfast downstairs.
7:00 AM: Finally get out of bed wearing sweatpants from a college I didn’t even attend. Sit down with my toddler as my partner serves breakfast.
7:15 AM: Convince my two-year-old to go to the bathroom while reading “Everyone Poops” for the millionth time.
7:20 AM: Dressing my child becomes a wrestling match as she rolls on the floor, protesting. Offer her a YouTube video as a bribe.
7:30 AM: Get her dressed, only to witness her using her toothbrush to clean the mirror.
7:45 AM: Engage in a footwear debate—she insists her shoes are too big. Bribe her again with more videos. Send them off and dive into work.
4. Clara, a Self-Proclaimed Average Mom
6:00 AM: My kids jump into bed and argue over who gets to lay by their dad. He escapes to the shower, leaving me to fend off the chaos.
6:30 AM: Drag myself out of bed in ten-year-old sweatpants with holes. Make coffee from whatever blend was on sale.
7:00 AM: Contemplate a healthier morning routine of quiet breakfasts and exercise, but instead, I clean cookie crumbs out of the cat food bowl.
7:15 AM: Kids refuse cereal for breakfast, so I whip up smoothies. They scream, “Eww!” and leave the table in disgust.
7:30 AM: Do the dishes and hunt for snacks since no one ate breakfast. Reheat coffee for the third time.
8:00 AM: Get everyone dressed, which involves a lot of chasing and dodging. Reasoning with my three-year-old? Not possible.
8:15 AM: Finally manage to get dressed while drinking my cold coffee and mentally countdown to bedtime.
Regardless of how chaotic or mundane your mornings may be, remember that there’s a mom out there sharing your struggles. One who dreams of sipping hot coffee in peace, doing yoga, and perhaps wearing something other than sweatpants. If you’re curious about home insemination, you can find valuable information on pregnancy and related topics here or explore artificial insemination options here.
Summary
The morning routines of everyday moms often differ vastly from those of high-achieving women featured in magazines. While luxury and leisure are common in the routines of successful women, many moms face chaotic mornings filled with mishaps and multitasking. Whether dealing with toddlers, pets, or breakfast battles, the reality is far from glamorous but filled with shared experiences.