Morning Routine For The Busy Autism Family

Oh autism mama, do you wake up to your children jumping on your bed? 

Maybe you hear them downstairs “making breakfast” themselves?

Of course, you could also be hearing how they are fighting over what show they will be watching while mom is still asleep.

I know how it is! I’ve been in all of these situations.

What does a mama do?

I’ve written in the past about how to start your mornings. I still stand by those steps. They are important. 

But now lets move on to what to do about those kids?

From my experience, how you start your mornings can have a great impact on the rest of your day.

If I wake up and already expect my kids to misbehave and mess up, I will be grumpy and that will rub off on the kids.

If I wake up earlier, say a prayer, have my own morning routine, I can be the best mom for my kids. We will have a better morning.

But a positive attitude is not all that will make a great morning. 

Here are 5 things that you absolutely need.

A Morning Routine For The Autism Family

1. Start the night before

I’ve been extra diligent about this one recently. I make sure that they do everything on their schedule. They put their clothes out for the next day. We may talk about what is happening the next day so they know what to expect.

2. Have an early morning for yourself

I talked a little bit about this above. It’s very important that naughty kids are NOT what is waking you up in the morning. Start with 10 or 15 minutes before you expect your kids to wake up. Wash your face. Drink some water. Read or listen to the Bible and pray. 

You can also check out the post I wrote earlier on what you need to have a successful day and this one as well.

3. A set list of rules

I love this one! How do your kids know what you want from them unless they KNOW what you expect? A list of rules, out in the open where they can read them to be reminded is what you need. Check out the printables I created or create your own.

4. A visual schedule

A visual schedule is EVERYTHING!

How does a visual schedule work? 

Well it will have all the things that you need your child to do in the morning. 

What do you want them to do? Make sure you have age appropriate tasks. My boys are 10 and 5 and they have the same morning routine.

A morning routine should include tasks such as, making the bed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast. I also have putting on clothes and socks and shoes.

It makes things so much easier on me and my kids. Check out this post for more information on visual schedule. And grab your own!

5. Grace

This I am still working on. 

God gives me grace every. single. day. Because I am not a perfect mom. I am not a perfect human. I mess up constantly. And God gives me grace.

So even though I yell at my kids more than I would like (or would like to admit) I take a breath. Say a quick prayer and give my kids grace for messing up. 

They are kids.

They will struggle.

They will need help.

You are amazing, mama.

And you CAN have a great morning with your kids. You just need the right tools. Remember mama, if you love your kids, if you give them grace and you do your best, it will be okay.

You got this, mama.

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. – John 1:16