I’ve had a lot of people ask what my mornings look like as a working mom, and I always hesitate a little before answering. Mostly because the internet makes it seem like everyone else wakes up early, drinks a hot coffee in silence, and sends their kids off dressed perfectly and smiling.
That is… not us.
I’m a working mom with twin toddlers, and our mornings are functional. That’s the goal. Not calm. Not aesthetic. Just: everyone gets fed, dressed, and out the door with minimal emotional damage.
So if you’re looking for a real working mom morning routine- not the Pinterest version…. you’ve come to the right place!
6:00 AM – I Wake Up
My alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. and I do not pop out of bed ready to seize the day. I wake up slowly, mentally negotiating with myself about how badly I need coffee before speaking to another human.
This is technically “my time,” but let’s be honest- it’s mostly just me trying to wake up before the kids do.
Directly after waking up, I:
- get dressed
- brush my teeth
- pour coffee
I consider that a successful start.
To give full context- I work from home. So my “getting dressed” is me throwing on some leggings and a t-shirt and calling it a day.
I don’t have to dress professionally or even put on makeup or do my hair. (And I’m honestly so grateful for that)
I also don’t work out in the morning. I don’t journal. I don’t manifest anything. Right now, surviving the morning is my self-care.
6:30 AM – The Kids Are Up
By about 6:30 a.m., my twins are usually awake. We are actively trying to push this later, but toddlers have their own opinions.
Some mornings they wake up happy. Other mornings they wake up already mad about something they dreamed about. It’s a gamble.
We do:
- bathroom runs
- quick cuddles
- slow start to the day
I’ve learned the hard way that rushing them immediately just makes everything worse later. A few calm minutes here saves a meltdown this early in the morning.
The Early Morning Vibe: Controlled Chaos
This part of the morning is a mix of:
- toys on the floor
- me reminding myself what time it is
- someone asking for a snack even though breakfast is coming
I usually let them play while I:
- get breakfast together
- refill water bottles
- mentally run through the morning schedule
- work
Nothing fancy is happening here. This is just buying time until breakfast.
7:30 AM – Breakfast
Breakfast happens around 7:30 a.m., and I keep it very predictable on purpose.
Weekday breakfasts are not creative. They are:
- eggs
- toast
- yogurt
- fruit
- oatmeal
That’s it. Rotation is key.
I’m not trying to impress anyone at 7:30 in the morning. The goal is food in their stomachs so everyone’s mood improves by at least 20%.
Some days they eat everything. Some days they barely touch it. I’ve stopped stressing about it- because stressing never helped anyway.
I give more variety for breakfast foods on the weekends. I have a full post with easy 5-minute breakfasts that are a hit in my house.
8:00 AM – Getting the Kids Dressed
By 8:00 a.m., we’re getting dressed. This part can go one of two ways:
- Smooth and surprisingly easy
- Absolute nonsense
There is no in-between.
Thankfully, my kids wear uniforms to school, so we have no fights over which shirt to wear.
But the actual getting dressed and ready part…. is usually complete chaos.
It’s as if this is a new routine that we do every. single. day.
I’ve found that letting them help — even if it takes longer — usually helps things move faster in the end.
Toddler logic makes no sense, but here we are.
Watching the Clock Like a Hawk
At this point, I’m very aware of the time. We need to leave by 8:30, and somehow the last 30 minutes always go the fastest.
This is when I start staging everything:
- shoes by the door
- bags ready
- jackets nearby
If I don’t do this, someone will be missing a shoe. It’s always a shoe. I don’t know where they go. (usually under the couch)
8:30 AM – Out the Door (Usually)
Our goal is to be out the door by 8:30 a.m., and most days we actually make it.
Not because everything went perfectly- but because the routine is familiar.
Some mornings we leave feeling calm and accomplished.
Other mornings we leave a little frazzled but technically on time.
Both count.
Most times it’s me letting each kid hold a cheese stick to eat in the car on the way to school.
What This Routine Has Taught Me as a Working Mom
After doing this over and over, here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Simple routines work better than “perfect” ones
The more complicated I make mornings, the harder they are.
2. Kids do better when they know what’s coming
Even if they don’t love every step, predictability helps.
3. Flexibility matters more than control
If something isn’t working, forcing it usually backfires.
4. Some mornings are just hard- and that’s normal
It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
If You’re a Working Mom Struggling With Mornings
If your mornings feel chaotic, exhausting, or frustrating- you’re not alone.
You don’t need a prettier routine.
You don’t need to wake up earlier.
You don’t need to “try harder.”
You need something realistic that works for your family.
This routine isn’t fancy, but it gets us out the door. And right now, that’s enough.
Final Thoughts
Being a working mom means mornings will never be perfect. Kids wake up early. Coffee gets cold. Someone cries over something small. The kids fight with each other like they’re in a WWE match.
If you’re doing your best and everyone makes it out the door- you’re winning.
And if tomorrow morning is messier than today? Same. You’re still doing a great job.
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