Reply to What are your best "getting out of the door in the morning" tips?

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[quote=Anonymous]Although I know, I really do know, and believe that getting things ready ahead of time, and waking before the children, is the key to a calm morning -- I also know form experience that those things just don't happen in our family.

So what helps, given that we will all be waking at the same time?

I think about what causes me to lose my cool in the mornings; what slows us up.   And then try to help that one thing.

At first it was dawdling.   I was always yelling... keep moving!   Let's go!   What helped was the rule of no TV or computer time until everyone is dressed and has had breakfast.

Then it was kids getting dressed but not including socks and shoes.   And not being able to find socks and shoes in time to get out the door.   So now we always keep shoes and everyone's socks in a basket by the door.   The kids don't have socks in their bedroom.   Their socks are by the door.

Kids putter around instead of eating breakfast.   So I have my husband set the table when he wakes up (he's the early riser) and when the kids come downstairs, they see their full cereal bowls waiting for the and they are somehow better inspired to sit down and eat.  Don't know why that works but it does.

Kids need more sleep and if they dawdle around in the AM that means they have to go to bed earlier the next night.

Not being able to find their uniform clothes (kids are in school) ... of course it would be best to lay out clothes the night before.  But failing that -- we keep all uniform components (tops and bottoms) in one location (one dresser drawer) and I do try on the weekends to be sure that drawer is well stocked with clean clothes.

Not being able to find lunch boxes: When kids come home from school I try to make it a habit/rule that they unpack their backpack in front of me, carry lunch box into the kitchen, empty it and place it in the kitchen sink.  I rinse it out and put it on its shelf (or in the freezer).  If I am feeling really organized I tell the kids to fill the lunch box with snacks, juice, etc. that night but I usually don't get around to doing that.

Not being able to find permission slips, etc.:  I try really hard to keep all papers to be signed in the kids' backpacks, not on a table, counter or bulletin board.   I do make a photocopy of important papers and post them though.

If kids are running late in the am I give them a baggie of cereal to take on the walk to the bus stop.

School lunches don't need to be ambitious.   I show my kids I love them in other creative ways.   School lunches are 1) sandwich 2) fruit 3) drink.

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