Morning People (and Overnight Oatmeal)

Hi, my name is Jaclyn and I am NOT a morning person. There, I’ve said it. Everyone in my household, myself included, has come to accept that I am not one of those amazing creatures who rolls out of bed in the best of moods, regardless of how little or poorly they’ve slept. I need to ease into the day, preferably with copious amounts of caffeine or I become what my children like to refer to as: the Mommy Monster. Sorry kids.

A few months ago, I decided I needed to get a hold of my mornings and banish the monster for good. The default kid alarm was no longer functioning for this household. I know you’ve all been there; dreaming of never having to unload the dishwasher again and then bam! The door violently bangs open, as if the world might come to an end, followed by: “MOM, MY IPAD BATTERY IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!” This is typically followed by whining and crying and an inanimate object being shoved in your face. Good times.

So what’s a mom to do? Is there a way to survive the morning chaos??? Yes I tell you, it might not be a day at the spa, but this is what I did: I started getting up before the kids. Groundbreaking, I know. As much as I despise waking up in the morning, there is nothing better than watching a gorgeous sunrise, hot coffee in hand, enjoyed in perfect silence. It sets the tone for the rest of my day, and everyone in the house benefits.

But why stop there? How else can a mom make the morning easier?? I’ll tell you, I do as much as humanly possible the night before. Pack lunches, put homework and signed forms in backpacks, do a quick clean uniform check, and make breakfast. Let’s face it, the kitchen is still dirty after dinner, so it’s a two for one mess!

Here it is, the best kept little breakfast secret ever: overnight oatmeal. This is the warm kind, not the one you throw in the fridge-which, let’s face it, is really just cold, soggy cereal with a better sales pitch. I’ve experimented with this one over the years and think its just perfect.

I throw everything in my Instant Pot the night before, set it on a delay and voila! All I have to do is spoon out oatmeal, throw on some toppings and done. You can literally use any fruit you have on hand: fresh, canned, dried. Same goes for nuts, use them or not, I always have tons, so I add them in. Drizzle on a little maple syrup and cream and you’re set.

Hope this helps make your morning routine a little easier!

enjoy!

xx
the turnips and tantrums team

Recipe Source: Turnips + Tantrums Original Recipe