Extra time is best found through organization (not like that's a secret). As a mom of four kids under the age of 7, and as someone who really (really) likes to sleep in, I was worried about being able to successfully choreograph that before-the-bus Bossa Nova when my kids were first initiated into public school. My husband was not shy, either, in sharing his doubts that I could peel the lids from my eyeballs before 8 a.m., nevermind properly see the kids off to school. It turns out, however, we were worried for nothing. I've found a little bit of organization to go a long way in reducing my stress in the morning, such that I've easily been able to cut our morning routine down to 20 minutes from rise and shine to waving goodbye!
The following are a few suggestions that I have for fellow moms of school-aged children.
(Feel free to email me with your own tips and suggestions, or post them right on the Message Board!)
The Night Before
Definitely get school clothes set out the night before. Underwear, socks, everything. You may even choose to pick out a week's worth of clothes. If they'll be having gym that day, make sure that there's gym shorts/pants in their backpack. Pack a t-shirt to go under their sweater so they only have to change their bottoms if the gym activity calls for it. My children's gym shoes are already their daily school shoes. I've made peace with the fact that their shoes don't match every outfit, because no one cares but me. Debate clothing choices in advance and make it a rule that they cannot argue in the morning. The morning rush is not a time to change one's mind over what to wear. Make sure your children know that rule in advance. Firstly, only certain foods can be transported to school without getting smushy and blechy. To make things easier, in addition to a homemade sandwich, I have given in to pre-packaged food stuffs. They are just so easy and speedy that I've decided they're worth the expense. The real point of organization, however is how they are stored!
If you were to search my pantry and fridge you'd see large plastic containers full of lunch snacks. This makes it so easy to just grab a few things and throw them into my children's bags.
In the fridge, on the bottom shelf, I have a clear container full of cheese sticks, yogurt tubes, fruit cups, etc. In the pantry I have crackers already separated into baggies, nuts (including pistachios already out of shell for my picky daughter because, hey, I'm just happy that she's eating anything so I'll do the work, salt under my thumbnail be darned!), pre-packaged carrot cakes with icing for dessert, etc. To make a lunch, I simply grab a juice box out of the freezer, make a sandwich, and choose some snacks from the snack bins. 1, 2, 3, done!
Some more favourite convenience snacks: organic fruit leather (apples are the primary ingredient in fruit leather and have very high pesticide counts, which become concentrated in the dried leather), nuts, popcorn, mini cucumbers and carrots with ranch dip, crackers or bagels with cream cheese and cheese sticks. I wish my kids liked more dried fruit.
Another tip that I plan on trying soon is to make a bunch of sandwiches at one time and freeze them in advance. It seems that meat and non-Mayo sandwiches would work best for that.
(And hey, check out the cool paper bags at Learning Lunch! Quiz questions are printed on every bag. I'm not sure that my kids would continue to love these as much as I do...)
The Morning
There should be only dressing, fixing hair, eating, toothbrushing and making beds left to do in the morning. To help kids from having to ask "What next, Mom?" all the time, or you having to yell at them like they are products on an assembly line, you can create a list of what things need doing and in what order for their own reference. If your children are pre-reading, draw little symbols for each step, such as a toothbrush for "brush teeth" and a shirt and pants for "get dressed". You will want them to eat and brush their teeth before getting dressed or there will be days when they go to school with syrup and toothpaste on their previously clean shirt!
A list accomplishes three main things:
Your kids are ready each morning with a minimum of confusion and yelling;
They learn responsibility and feel accomplished with their new independence;
They learn/practice reading with seeing these simple words over and over every morning.
As well, if you have girls, consider what a shorter hair cut could do to reduce the time that you spend on their hair and the amount of crying that they do as you try to work out those tangles. I recently cut my girls' hair to jaw-length sophisticated bobs and I can't imagine why we kept it long for so much time! They've had a lot of compliments and they stand out because most girls their ages are sporting pig tails and braids. Come on-- who has time for double French braids?!
The Quickie Breakfast
If you're really in a time crunch, get the kids to help themselves to some cereal without worrying about them making a mess. Keep cups and plastic bowls in a bottom cupboard so they can fetch them without balancing on chairs or climbing on countertops. In our house, we also have this terrific Indispensable Dispenser from Zevro. The kids can "pour" their own bowl! No rumaging through the pantry, no spilling or over-pouring and the kids think it's fun! You can purchase single models, or our double one, in red, black, white, silver and stainless steel. I've seen them sell online for as little as $17 for the single model! You can purchase yours online here.
Then, to make the milk pouring easier, just purchase one of those push-button water dispensers that can sit in the fridge. Teach the kids that they have to wait until the last drip before running off with their bowl, and you've just crossed one more thing off your list allowing you more time to dress your face up and throw on a cute top! And how great do your kids feel that they are able to make their own breakfast?!
The Dash Out the Door
Another great tip to speed the morning rush along in a less frenzied style is to get thyself a Time Tracker clock!If your children are too young to tell time, this great digital clock visually tracks time so that when it lights up yellow, your child knows it's almost time and when it's red, time's up! Select a sound to play each time a section changes for added reinforcement, and to remind mom of the time, without having to leave a room to find a clock! To purchase it for $32.98, just click here.
I don't know about your kids, but for mine, a part of the tension with getting ready in the morning is the worry about being late. It will be 20 minutes before it's time to leave and my two oldest children are saying, "Oh, no! It must be time to go!" This great time tracker clock would go a long way to ease their anxiety and make let them feel independent, until they become proficient at telling time on their own.
Be sure to reward your kids with praise when they prove themselves good listeners and independent. Send them off to meet their day with smiles on their faces, not frowns!
