On this episode of Rise & Shine, Author and speaker AJ Spurr joined us to chat about the highs and lows of school mornings, sharing some laughs and a few relatable stories from her own experience as a parent.
We all know that school mornings can be notoriously busy, but AJ’s family has found their rhythm. “We’re really blessed,” AJ says. “We’ve got this secret back-to-school route where we only hit one set of traffic lights, and it’s very easy breezy for us.”
AJ also spoke about how family routines can change and evolve over the years. Mornings in her home have now become calm and quiet. “We’re very chilled with grade eight and grade nine this year,” AJ says, jokingly calling herself and her family “seasoned professionals.”
The Highs and Lows of School Mornings
But in the early years of parenting, the morning routine looked very different. Kindergarten drop-offs were particularly emotional. “When they’re in kindergarten, you actually have to get out of the car, and there is separation anxiety and stress. I really feel for parents experiencing that now. But I promise you, they won’t be doing it when they’re 21!” AJ says.
Sometimes as parents, we don’t realise the significance of moments until they’ve passed. “Driving home today, I had a memory moment of those prep days,” AJ says. “At some point, that precious little boy moved away, and there wasn’t a definitive moment when my toddler son wasn’t here anymore.”
For smoother mornings, AJ shared some practical wisdom she’s learned through years of experience. “A lot of the preparation for a good drop-off starts the night before,” she says. “Uniforms out, lunchboxes done. That saves drama. If something’s missing or dirty, you have time to sort it out. Five minutes before leaving is not the time.”
Mornings in AJ’s house also include worship music to set the day’s tone. “We put worship music on while we’re eating breakfast, just drenching everybody before facing the world,” she says.
You can listen to AJ’s full interview below, and for more great resources, head over to the Seeing God website.
