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I have been getting up at 6am, so I can get in a 30 minute walk and a 30 minute Bible study/quiet time and a cup of coffee (much-needed "me time") before 7:15 or so. By the time I eat breakfast, have a shower (if I get that lucky!), and throw in a load of laundry or pay a few bills...it seems like it's 8:30 and I still have 4 mouths to feed! My kids tend to sleep in until 7:30 or so, but all this leaves us not starting school until 9am or after (if our 11 month old cooperates with our "schedule")! I would like to get started earlier, but I don't see how we could unless I get up earlier (which I really don't want to do). I'm just curious how early you all start your day and if you have any suggestions for me! Thanks.

What if you did a 20 minute walk and 20 minute Bible study? That would put you at 6:40 to put a load of laundry in and make breakfast. If you all ate breakfast at 7:30, you'd probably be done eating by 8:00. You could maybe do the bills after school...don't know if this works for you, just trying to kick some ideas around.

All that being said, I would love to have accomplished by 9 all that you have!!! We wake up around 9 and have been trying to remedy that with sporadic success for quite some time now.

Well, my dh gets up at 5:20 and I *try* to get up with him, but that doesn't always happen, lol. My kids also tend to sleep until around 7:30 or so. Like you, I also have a busy morning and often don't get started with school until 9:00 or later (and I only have two kids!!). I don't really have any advice except for everyone to maybe get up 30 mins. earlier?? It would be hard at first, but that extra 30 mins. can make a huge difference in your day. Or what about doing laundry/bills in the evening? Just throwing out some ideas....

Sounds to me like you have a lovely morning routine. I would love to consistently start school by 9am (and have all that other stuff done!). My only advice is to keep breakfast simple.

I think your morning sounds awesome!

I get up at about 6, but my kids also get up around 6. I fix their "coffee", peanut butter on a spoon and banana, and give them (and me) until 8 to get going and do everything. At 8, we all get dressed, 8:15 is chores, 8:30 starts school.

Today was a horrible terrible no good very bad day with school and we were still done by 11....

I also think everything sounds great! I try to get up around 5:30, do my quiet time, fix dh breakfast and lunch for the day, then walk. I walk one mile every day and it takes 12-16 minutes??? not sure how far your walking. I also try to do bills, work etc. at this time then get kids breakfast. Sounds like you are good to me. We try to start at 8:30, no later than 9 or things do not go as smoothly I agree with the simple breakfast!! Helps us a lot.

I'm embarrassed to admit this after reading the other responses, but we don't get up until usually around 9:00 every morning. I consider it one of the perks of homeschooling.

Wow, you ladies all get up so EARLY!! I get up around 7:30 with my youngest son, my other son gets up shortly after that, my daughter gets up around 8:30. We aim to have breakfast done and school started around 9:30, but that doesn't always happen. I don't know how you all get up so early, I just like my sleep too much to try and get up any earlier.
Nancy

I try to get up around 8:30. Sometimes it is more like 9:30 before I get up and get going.

I get up at 5 with dh and fix his breakfast . He is usually gone by 5:30ish and then one of my girls is up around six and the other 6:30 - 7:00. It is everyone's quite time until I call breakfast around 8:00. I read aloud while they eat and then we start school around 8:30. This morning was the first day that we all left the house a little before 7 and walked/biked/rode a scooter around the neighborhood. I hope to start doing this 3 or 4 times a week! HOPE being the key word here!

I don't really have any suggestions except getting up earlier, which if you're not a morning person like I am it might be pretty tough! For the record, I am done for the day by 5p.m., that doesn't mean I get to be done, but I'm really done!!

I get up between 5:00 and 5:30 everyday. Ever since I've been a mommy, I have experienced my DESPERATE need for God in the morning to help me get through the day. That's why I get up so early , out of awareness of my need to spend time with God. I also try to exercise almost every morning. I get my kids up at 7am, and we start school at 8. Sounds pretty regimented, I know, but that's just how we operate. Otherwise we'd be doing school all day. We all like to do it and be done with it in time for some fun in the afternoon.

My wake up time varies but, I am aiming for our schooling to start around 9:00.

A few simple time savers for me, so that the morning routine doesn't seem too overwhelming are...

Shower the night before, wash hair, and in the morning I can skip a shower or just take a quick one to wake up/refresh.

Do all kitchen chores the night before, I have too much of a rough start in the morning if the kitchen isn't completely tidied up the night before

Drop a load of laundry in the night before, or try and complete a load or two at night

Keep breakfast very simple...bagels, fruit smoothies, granola bar and orange juice, banana and a muffin. I figure we can take the time to make lunch our more elaborate meal and I don't feel pushed on time.

Have all schooling materials set up and ready to go for the next day

Prepare my girls' clothing for the next morning, the night before

Nothing major here but, I find that if I can accomplish most tasks the night before I don't feel overwhelmed.

Candice

I think I am going to be one of the minority here but I get up when I wake up most of the time. That is usually no later than 9:00 when school is going on and as late as 10:30 when it is out. I have a sleep issues so I have to sleep when I do. My youngest two sleep late unless woken. My older kids get up at 7 and do independent work until I am up during school time. But also I find I am more productive in the early evening than I am in the morning anyway. If my sleep is fairly consistent then 7:30 is my preference. I do my Bible study and prayer time in the evening every night. I am actually more consistent then.

Wow! Thank you ladies so much for your replies. I'm feeling better about our routine! I got some good suggestions on how I can shuffle some things around to make the mornings less stressful. A house of 4 kids 7 and under is bound to be busy! As always, thanks for the encouragement!!