Published: October 03, 2006 09:59 am         

Working Mom's Tips to Take Control of Mornings

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 75 percent of all mothers are employed, and as most working moms would agree, balancing the demands of home and office is no simple task. In fact, these women concur that the toughest job they ever had was being a mom.



Such is the case for morning show television host and managing editor Connie Colla, a mother of two, whose day begins before the sun even rises. Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Colla hosts a three-hour live television show. This job demands her to arrive in studio at 5 a.m., research all top news stories that happened overnight, manage her staff of 14, and prepare to deliver news and lifestyle stories to almost nine million homes, across 13 states from Maine to Virginia, and in Washington, D.C. Not to mention, she must look great and remain upbeat throughout the process. But that dwarfs what she oversees at home.



Before even arriving in studio, Colla must conquer a hectic morning schedule to prepare her family for the day, while making sure she gets out the front door on time. Every second counts, so Colla has come up with a few easy ways to maximize her morning routine:



1 Tap Into Technology - Colla

swears by her Blackberry, "It's the world's best invention." The PDA stores hundreds of contacts; is a daily appointment book; contains details on important meetings; sends reminders of important family events such as her daughter's upcoming camp project; and alerts her of at-home needs such as picking up dog food on the way home from work.



Avoid fashion emergencies preventing last-minute clothing crises is a must, so Colla sets aside time Sunday night to pick out a week's worth of clothing, from shirts to shoes and even accessories. Colla says, "It sounds like a big project, but it will save you a lot of time in the morning, and help you avoid wearing two different shoes on your mad dash out the door."



3Do Today, Done Tomorrow - Growing up, Colla could not understand why her grandmother would set the kitchen table for breakfast before bed. Now, she appreciates her grandmother's forethought. Colla says, "There is nothing worse than waking up to a long list of things that have to get done." To get a head start on the day, Colla has come up with a nightly ritual to make mornings easier, including loading the washer, folding the clothes in the dryer, filling the coffee pot, packing lunch for her children and placing their school bags and shoes by the door.



The List - One list Colla can't live without is posted in her kitchen. Any time an empty milk carton is thrown out, the family member must add it to the kitchen's "To Do" list. At the end of the week, she grabs the list and heads to the store. "Shopping is easy, and a new jar of peanut butter is back in place in no time."



Add 15 Minutes - By setting her alarm clock 15 minutes early, Colla says her day starts off well with a little bit of stretching and personal time. "I don't jump out of bed and hit the treadmill or anything crazy, but spending a few minutes with yourself, stretching, getting the blood back in your sleepy body, praying and mentally running through the day, can empower you for what's ahead."



Keep the Kids Busy with ON DEMAND - Entertaining her children while getting ready for work is not always easy, so Colla uses ON DEMAND from Comcast to occupy their time. "It's reassuring to know that my kids can choose from more than 7,500 shows each month that are educational and age appropriate," Colla says. "The ability to stop, rewind and fast forward also makes life easier by allowing us to

watch what we want, when we want." The extensive library of children's programming includes 50 hours dedicated just to preschoolers, and special features like parental control that provide mom and dad the final say in what their kids watch.