{"id":5663,"date":"2025-02-04T03:52:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T10:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/?p=5663"},"modified":"2025-01-25T12:56:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T19:56:12","slug":"morning-greeting-the-morning-habit-that-changed-everything-for-my-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/2025\/02\/04\/morning-greeting-the-morning-habit-that-changed-everything-for-my-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Morning Greeting – The Morning Habit That Changed Everything for My Family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My story of deep conviction began with a simple realization: I had stopped showing my kids they were loved each morning. Just a few intentional minutes unlocked the secret to happier mornings.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I am typically not a morning person (unless I am sitting in a camping chair).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I require hot tea, quiet, and a slow adjustment to the day. But even when I am half-awake I can see all the things that need to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALL. THE. THINGS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the listing part of my brain does not turn off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"twin<\/a>
Photo by vitaly turchaninov<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My four kids range from 10 to 19 years old. They get up in the mornings and do their morning routines (on their own upstairs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was not always true for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mornings are a uniquely hard time for those who are still in the midst of life with little ones and their demanding 24-hour needs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hear you, I see you, what you are doing is hard, give yourself grace, do what you can, and love those little ones well! hugs!! \ud83d\udc99<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These days, I have the beautiful luxury of doing my morning routine kid-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When my kids come downstairs for breakfast, I have already had time to myself to slowly get going on the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I used to greet them with statements like, \u201cHave you brushed your teeth?\u201d \u201cThe dishes need to be put away.\u201d \u201cWhere are your shoes for PE?\u201d \u201cMake sure you feed the dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no hug. No smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No gentle \u201cGood morning\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No space for how they were feeling or for showing them love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was just marching forward to the next task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my defense, this was not a planned onslaught of demands and requests. It was just a result of my overly active mental task list and my desire to keep myself from drowning in all the things that needed to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then I read an article by Mystie Winkler about the power of a morning greeting. I felt a deep ache in my chest, realizing how far I\u2019d drifted from the mom I wanted to be. At the same time, I felt a spark of hope, knowing I had the power to change with a routine that was so simple yet meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somewhere along the way, in the midst of my overwhelm and exhaustion, I had stopped smiling at my kids. I no longer greeted them with a kind \u201cgood morning\u201d and a hug\u2026 I couldn\u2019t even remember when I had stopped doing that (which broke my heart).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It felt uncomfortable yet illuminating, a mix of humility and resolve that called me to step into a better version of myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of our responses are actually governed by habit more than our emotional state or conscious decision.
That should be encouraging, because it means we can use habit hacks to change the very atmosphere of our homes and the tone of our relationships.
Something as small as building the habit of looking into people\u2019s eyes when they\u2019re talking, smiling as you look up, or greeting someone who comes into the room are acts that build relationships and teach everyone around us how others should be treated.\u201d <\/p>– Mystie Winkler (see this post<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So I began a new habit of a morning hug and greeting.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s simple but profound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they come downstairs, I stop and greet them with a hug, a smile, and a happy comment. I take a minute to acknowledge each child and love them well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I have stopped and greeted them with kindness, they know that I am glad to see them and happy to be their mom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This radically changed our mornings.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It slows me down so I remember what is most important, I am centered on my kids and not the tasks to be done, it starts the day with love and kindness. And it boosts the oxytocin levels in our brains!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes me just a few minutes but it sets the tone for the whole day no matter if we are together or going our separate ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"girl<\/a>
Photo by Providence Doucet<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s do this for our kids!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have the power to change the atmosphere in our mornings and our homes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the small simple things are what is most powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What about you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n