Your energy in the morning is a clean slate, and you get a chance each day to build it up the way you want.
– Mridula Singh
A calm morning ritual. I know that is hard to do in the morning with teenagers and life; to get everyone out of the door, with the least amount of stress and teenage angst. However, most of us rush through our mornings, starting the day out in a stressful flurry of activity. Often this sets the tone for the rest of our day. What if we pause as parents and as a family and try to think of little ways to minimize that morning rush. Our family did that and created a more strategic flow to our morning routine and allowed for a minimum of stress. I made breakfast egg muffins enough for the week and fresh fruit pre-cut into single serve containers and juice boxes to go. Breakfast was a breeze. We then decided on our morning departure time and then everyone decided what time they had to be up to be ready on time. Lunches were made the night before and somehow the morning became hectic, not stressful. We found time to sing our favorite songs on the drive to drop off for school and there was less yelling, and chaos and stress.
The one thing I started doing was writing a positive affirmation or quote on an index card and taping it to the garage door. Each Sunday evening, after breakfast prep for the week was done, I would change the positive affirmation and each morning each one of us would see that card. It was something my husband and daughters enjoyed reading every morning and perhaps it just increased their self esteem and self worth at the right moment when they thought of the positive affirmation during the day. A few of my favorite quotes;
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. — Gandhi.
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly. —Proverb.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. —Eleanor Roosevelt. Really, what teenager does not need to hear this and to hear it often?
Elevate your conversation, not your voice. This was something my dad would say to me as a teenager when I was angry at him. He would not listen to the frantic screech of my teenage self but would calmly ask me to elevate my conversation. He was teaching critical thinking skills by helping me to present my case, and to remain calm in emotional situations. I often hear my dad’s voice in my head when my emotions start to get the better of me. This quote, who I am sure belongs to someone famous, has deep personal meaning to me.
Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out. —Robert Collier
You can do it. You are smart. I believe in you.
There are many more positive and encouraging quotes but as a parent think of what ones would inspire, empower and encourage everyone in your house. Write them down and put them somewhere where everyone can see them, and feel the energy from these powerful quotes.