Ok, so this won’t be so wordless….Yeah, this is Favre, when he retired from the Packers the FIRST time. I was sucked into this emotion – I won’t lie. Today, he signed with the Vikings. Really? For reals? After this show of emotion? Favre, you are lamespice.

For more Wordless Wednesday, head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom and the home of Wordless Wednesday.

Mornings can be one of the craziest times of the day.  Between getting yourself dressed, fed, and ready to head out the door, you have to do the same for your kids.  With back to school upon us, mornings can be even more hectic.  Here are a few things that I do to make sure our mornings go a little bit smoother.

1.  Pick out clothes the night before.  It’s nice to just get up and grab my clothes before I head into the bathroom to shower.  Just one less thing to think about.  Pick out the kids clothes too or have them do so.  It will save time and headaches in the morning.

2.  Make lunches the night before.  This saves you not only the prep time in the morning, but the time of figuring out what you are going to take.

3.  Make sure all homework is done and packed and all necessary papers are looked at, signed, etc, and ready to go in the morning.

4.  Get the kids up a few minutes earlier than normal.  This gives them some time to maybe watch a quick cartoon or something and wake up a bit before you begin the hustle of the day.  i started doing that over the winter and believe it or not, the mornings went a bit smoother.

5.  Keep simple things on hand for breakfast such as frozen waffles or granola bars.  Let’s face it, not all mornings go smoothly and there isn’t always time, so a quick breakfast in the car on the way to the sitter’s or to school is sometimes necessary.

If you dread the morning hustle, try a few of these things and find yourself less stressed in the AM.

Name: Laura Lowell

Occupation: Speaker, author and Executive Editor of 42 Rules

Describe Your Occupation:
I help independent professionals build their brand and their businesses using books as a platform. 42 Rules was created to simplify the writing, publishing and marketing process to make writing and marketing their books and themselves an enjoyable part of their business strategy.

Tell us about yourself:
I have two wonderful daughters (7 & 9) and the world’s best husband (I’m a bit biased We are gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime as we pack up our stuff and move to Spain in August for a year. The plan is to give our kids (and ourselves) a different view of the world, and how people live in places other than Silicon Valley.

Tell us what a typical day is like for you:
My day is like most other working moms…full of activities and plans that change constantly. It’s like juggling all day everyday. When the kids are in school the first thing is to get everyone ready and out the door. Then I jump on email and get myself organized for the day. I list out my priorities each day so that I am sure I get the important things done. I try to make time for exercise, but I’m not always good at it. My husband and I try and spend time together during the day as he works from home. When the kids get home it is homework, activities, dinner and bedtime. Phew! Not I go back to email and tie up all the lose ends and get ready for the next day…which will be completely different from the day before or the day after. That’s one of the things I like about my life – each day is different.

What are some of your challenges?
My biggest challenge is prioritizing time for myself. Work, kids, husband, friends always seem to jump to the top of the list. To be honest, I usually find time for a manicure and lunch with friends. But the exercise thing has me stumped…maybe because I just don’t like it

How do find balance in your life?
I try and allocate time for specific activities so that I don’t multi-task when it comes to my kids. When I’m with them, I want to be with them. It is ok for them to see me working – its what I do – but I also want them to know that they are a priority.

What do you do to take time for yourself?
I spend time with my husband, my friends and my family. That’s what gives me energy and makes me happy. When I need some alone time, I usually go get my nails done and listen to my iPod.

Do you have any advice for other working moms?
Don’t compare yourself to other moms. We al have different lives, kids, partners and circumstances. Comparing yourself will drive you nuts. Cut yourself some slack and remember that we all love our kids and we do the best we can.

Do you have a favorite tool or resource that you use to help stay organized?
Sticky notes and my daily to-do list. Not very sophisticated, but they work for me.

Where Can We Find You Online?

http://www.42rules.com/working_moms/

Twitter: @42Rules

Are you a working mom? Do you want to be featured here at Not Just 9 to 5. Please fill out the questionnaire found here. Please also email me at laura AT notjust9to5 DOT com with any images you would like used. Interviews are featured on Thursdays.

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