The One Thing I Changed in my Morning Routine that made me a Happier Mom

I used to wake up to chaos. Not just kid chaos—although yes, also kid chaos—but the kind of internal chaos that starts buzzing in your brain before your eyes are even fully open.

What needs to be done today?
Did I switch the laundry?
Did I sign that permission slip?
Why am I so tired?
Do I have anything clean to wear?

Sound familiar?

My mornings felt rushed, reactive, and honestly… kind of miserable. And when you start the day frazzled, it sets the tone for everything else. I knew something had to change.

So I tried something simple.

Before I even got out of bed—before my feet hit the ground—I started praying.

Not a long, fancy prayer. No perfect words. Just a quiet moment, eyes still closed, heart still half-asleep, whispering to God:

"Thank you for this day. Thank you for the house. Thank you for the kids. Thank you for my husband. Thank you for my health. Thank you for the sunshine (or the rain)."

That’s it. That’s the one thing I changed. I praised God for all of our blessings before I even got out of bed.

And it’s made me a happier mom.

Praising God before I even start the day reminds me of all of the things I am grateful for. All of the good in our lives. Even when there is spiritual warefare, even through sickness, even through difficult times - praising God FIRST gives me encouragement, guidance, and a positive way to start the day.

It centers me. Before I check my phone, before someone starts crying or asking for cereal, I ground myself in gratitude and intention. I choose peace before the noise.
It reminds me I’m not alone. Motherhood can feel so isolating, but this morning prayer connects me to something bigger than my to-do list.
It shifts my focus. Instead of starting the day thinking “What do I have to do?” I’m asking “Who do I want to be today?”

Let’s be real: I’m not perfect. Some mornings, it’s a short “thank you Jesus for this day”. However, it is not something I forget to do.

It’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s about making room for presence.