Tackling the new day. How to start the mornings right?

I don’t do mornings well. Not that I’m not a morning person, I am. I love the glimpse of the new day streaming through windows, the cooler air, and the quiet street. I love seeing my sleepy little faces as they emerge from the bedroom, “Morning Mum”. Then squeezy cuddles like they haven’t seen me for days. The endless possibilities of the day ahead stretch out in wonder. But then it changes.
They want weextbix, no toast with jam, honey, actually vegemite. One wants a hot Milo and one wants warm milk. When warm milk is presented they then start crying because there is no honey in it. The there is the arguments over TV watching, toys and games. It’s only 7am and I still need to get them dressed.
This morning started in spectacular fashion. When at 6:30am I realised, as I heard the garbage truck coming down our street that the bin hadn’t gone out the night before. I danced around curious children to pull on my jeans and jumper as I ran out the backdoor, discovered that my thongs where in the middle of the lawn, soaking wet from the storm last night. I then run down the driveway, slipping and sliding, dragging the bin behind me with one hand and trying to wave down the truck driver whilst holding on to my braless chest with the other. The truck was just coming up the other side so I pulled the bin across the street, gave the driver my very best thank you wave and smile then pull the darn thing back home. A sheepish good morning to a noisy neighbour along the way. Once inside the usual demands of breakfast had started, before I had even caught my breath.
Mornings are generally handled solo by me. My husband is usually still in bed, the mix of chronic pain and pain medication means that he has often had a late and restless night or he needs a while to stretch and make his body want to move again after hours of laying still. I sometimes ashamedly feel a pang of jealousy as I wish it was me still lying in bed. I start to get tense; I can feel my shoulders draw up toward the base of my skull. I get shouty and bossy. I hate the mornings is repeated I my head. I then start to worry about the future. When I add the feeding and sleeping demands of a newborn in the mix, then next year Isaac will need to get off to school as well.
Starting the day this way is not healthy or helpful. Some days I will carry the morning’s tension along with me for part of and sometimes the rest of the day. When you start off a cranky, shouty mess it is hard to shake off. I feel I need a strategy. A plan to help me tackle the morning crazy. Here is what I have so far.
I will start the day with stretch and a little positive mantra. Today is a new day; today I will breathe and go slowly.
I will try to get up 1 hour for the boys. I will use this time for some stretching, writing and a cup of tea.
I will prepare the breakfast table the night before. Bowls, spoons and cereal at the ready.
I will encourage Isaac to help get his own breakfast and to help Cohen get his.
There will be no TV at breakfast time. New rule. No arguing.
On Tuesday evenings make sure the bin is out.
So that is what I have so far. I’m starting tomorrow.
What is the morning like at your house? Is it crazy too? What do you do to start your day in a positive light?