Our kids are usually at their best first thing in the morning. They get up usually before six in the morning, and wake us up with demands for big breakfasts.

The past couple of months, we’ve settled into a routine. My husband gets up first. When the kids wake up, he entertains them. It usually involves making pancakes or having the kids help him prepare coffee.

I wake up a few minutes later, wash a load of laundry, and change diapers. We all eat a leisurely breakfast together, with my husband usually taking pictures of the kids, before he goes to work.

Once he’s gone, there’s a change in the atmosphere. In our family, dad is the fun one, while mom is the one who gets the boring but necessary things done. The kids play for a bit, while I do the dishes. Then, I give my son a shower and put him down for his morning nap.

While he’s sleeping, I get my daughter ready for school. She gets a bath, fresh clothes, and her teeth brushed. I remind her to pack her bag and then edit it out sneakily (she has a tendency to pack the most random things, like a bag of raw potatoes, to “show teacher”). By 11, my son is awake and we’re off to school.

It’s all very mundane but I really find comfort in following a routine. When I was younger, spontaneity was important. But now that I’m an adult, wow, I find it so overrated. Isn’t it much nicer to know what will happen at a particular time?

Our mornings, in many ways are so ordinary, but they’re my favorite part of the day. What are your mornings like?