My son ate his cereal, eyebrows furrowed, shoulders stiff. A dark cloud had followed him down the stairs and I thought, “Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” But I bit my tongue. He looked straight at me. “I don’t like it when you yell from downstairs,” he said. “I like it when you come into my room and rub my arm.” I stared at him. I suppose most kids probably like being awoken gently and most moms, if we’re being honest, probably prefer that their kids use an alarm clock and just get up already. But still, my son’s words linger with me.
It’s true we don’t always have the time to treat our kids to a sweet wake-up call. Sometimes, there’s hardly enough time to scarf down breakfast, never mind finish up the previous night’s homework. But despite the rush and busyness of most mornings, you have the power to positively shape the next few hours of your kids’ lives with a few extra seconds of your time. Here are 5 little things you can do to help your child have a good day.
1. Your First Touch When You See Him
I crept into my son’s room and leaned over his bed, tracing the outline of his cheek with my forefinger. He stirred and a sleepy smile curled his lips. For my child who sometimes struggles with his desire to go to school, I’ve found that a gentle touch first thing in the morning is one way to get the day off to a good start. My touch tells him a lot about how I love him without speaking a single word. Sometimes saying “I love you” loses its meaning when it becomes habitual. But tousling his hair or holding him in your arms tells your child you love him in a very intentional way that he can’t ignore.
2. Your First Words When She Wakes Up
Even if I’m in a rush, I try to make sure to use my first words well and at a soft pitch. “Hi, sweet girl,” I’ll whisper, creeping into my daughter’s darkened room. Yours is the first voice your kids are going to hear, so you can start their day right and set a tone. If a child beats me down the stairs, I might say: “Good job getting your breakfast by yourself.” A little kindness goes a long way, and I’ve noticed my kids act better toward each other getting out the door.
3. Your Last Touch Before He Leaves You
My daughter likes to lean in for a kiss before she gets out of the car. With my son, I pat his back. My hope is my kids will feel my love throughout the day. Knowing they’re loved at their core gives kids a deep sense of security and belonging. And while some kids won’t profess to be huggers, making contact with another person still matters. A fist bump from a teacher might be the only touch they receive over the next seven hours. So, when you send your child off to school, you can help her have a good day by loving her through your actions. Gently squeezing her shoulders or kissing her palm shows her “I love you no matter what.”
4. Your Last Words Before She Starts Her Day Without You
How many times have your last words been angry? It’s happened to me too. If things turn sour in the car, try to steer things back to calm: “We’ll talk about this again after school. Have a good day.” I don’t want my kids to bring any stress from home to school. They’ve got enough to worry about. I also don’t want our last words to be angry ones. Even though the likelihood of anything scary happening to your child at school is slim, sadly, we know it’s possible. When you part, try to keep your words positive: “I can’t wait to see you after school!” It’ll help your kids focus on what they have to accomplish at school and help them have a good day.
5. Your Prayers Before He Starts the Day on His Own
“Lord, please bless and protect the kids today. Watch over them in all they do.” Part of our routine in the morning is to say prayers on the way to school. But if it’s too hard to fit in a family prayer before school, just tell your kids you’ll pray for them today. Sending my children into the world without me is still hard after all these years. What makes it a little easier is knowing I’ve sent them out under God’s protection. It eases my worries and helps us both to have a good day.
If it’s too hard to fit in a family prayer before school, just tell your kids you'll pray for them today. Click To TweetIn what other ways do you help your child have a good day?
