I’m not sure what it is about Sunday mornings that makes them so crazy. Any other day of the week I can have my kids clean, fed, dressed and ready to go by 8:30 AM. However, when Sunday morning rolls around getting out the door by 9:10 AM seems like an impossible feat. Caleb is looking for his shoe, my husband and I are hunting down all of our Sunday school materials and the breakfast dishes are laying dirty on the table. Maybe it’s because my husband is home and so I spend more time with him, maybe it’s just the devil trying to stomp on my patience. One way or the other,in the past I have arrived at church frazzled and frustrated with a spirit not ready to worship. Here are a few tips I have learned and implemented that will help you get out of the door with patience and dignity intact.
1. As much as possible, prepare on Saturday evening. Give your kids their baths, take out their church clothes, socks, underwear, tights, shoes and accessories. Lay them out somewhere that is convenient for you. Get ready for Sunday dinner the night before. My crock pot is one of my best friends. Sunday night I throw together a roast or chicken with vegetables and stuffing and put it in the refrigerator. Then, when one of my children gets up during the night, which one of them inevitably will, I start the crock pot on low. If I get lucky and my kids sleep all night I’ll start the crock pot on high as soon as I get up. I also suggest you prepare for breakfast the night before. Have breakfast dishes out and even set the table if you can. Before you go to bed, have all of your dishes done. This will help you not to feel so overwhelmed in the morning.
2. Start early Sunday morning. Plan to be up at least an hour before your children get up. I know, this is stretching it. This is an area that I do not always succeed in. However, if you do, you can be showered, dressed and have your devotions before you have to switch to mother mode. Keep breakfast simple, i.e. cereal or scrambled eggs. Spending too much time at the breakfast table will eat up your free time before you need to leave. Give your kids breakfast in their pajamas so you don’t have to change clothes afterwards if they have an accident. Go directly from breakfast to getting your kids dressed. Then, if you’re lucky, they can play while you clean up breakfast.
I strongly dislike coming home from church to a dirty house. It makes me feel like I have to spend my last weekend day working when I want to be relaxing. One of my best Sunday feelings (aside from church itself) is coming home to a house where the toys are cleaned up, the dishes are done and lunch is ready!
Please check out these related articles:
Five Tips to Help You Read Sunday Lessons
Time-Saving Cleaning Tips Part 1
Time-Saving Cleanup Tips Part 2