Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get food into her as soon as possible.

THIS! My DS is a super-active kid with a fast metabolism and an early bedtime. There was a point (age 5ish) that I would go up to DS's room with a cup of milk (sometimes chocolate milk!) with a lid and straw about 20m before he needed to get up and get him to drink it when he was half asleep. I would then come back later to tell him to get out of bed and he was SO much more pleasant and would usually be much more cooperative with the morning routine. I'm not a morning person myself, so I totally sympathize with him. I need a good 20m laying in bed thinking about getting up before I actually motivate to do it! DH and DD on the other hand pop up instantly, smiling, cheerful and ready to chat. So annoying to us slow risers!

This is a great idea! My 5yo has never been a morning person (I have video of him as an infant waking up slowly and grumpy in the morning, he's always been a "late to bed, late to rise" kid). I'm not either. DH is though and doesn't understand, so mornings are pretty painful in our house.

I may have to try the milk trick next week...

I've never been a morning person. Our daughter is very much her father's daughter. She can be a total bitch some mornings, she's 14. But the frequency and intensity are both lower than before. With a 7 year old, I'd recommend talking to her about what specific behaviors could be changed. Obviously, have the conversations in the afternoon or evening or over weekends. Acknowledge that she's not a morning person, tell her that you hate mornings too (if true), and that's perfectly fine. Some people just are NOT morning people. However, some of her specific behaviors can be changed with work and practice. It'll take time, don't overreact when she's having a rough morning, but work with her on cutting down the bitchiness.

She may never be a morning person. But she doesn't have to be a bitch about it. She's old enough to start making a conscious effort to change.