Our Newest Morning Routine

I am NOT a morning person. If it were up to me, the world would not start until at least 10:00 am. But, the school system and corporate world refuse to listen to my requests.

So, now I have a kindergartner who MUST be at school and in her seat by 8:00am. I've been struggling to get us both out the door and her to school on time, and me to work with some hair left on my head. You see, my 5 year-old is extremely picky and opinionated about everything. I know she could give any Hollywood diva a run for their money. We've had multiple morning melt-downs over what she is wearing, how her hair is fixed, what she's eating for breakfast and lunch, etc. After some months with summer camp as a "dry run" for the mornings and lots of trial and error, here is what is working for me now.

1.) Clothes. The night before, we pick out and lay out EVERY single piece of clothing she is going to wear the next day, dress, shoes, jacket, etc. My goal is to not be looking for any missing shoes or sweaters as we're trying to get out the door.

2.) Hair. We discuss and decide how her hair is going to be done the next day, pigtails? a bow, just leave it straight? And it the morning, it's non-negotiable.

3.) Breakfast. We discuss what she is going to have for breakfast the next day, AND we lay out whatever we can (bowl, spoon, cereal box, vitamins). I've even started pouring milk pre-measured into a small container just for her,and leaving it in the bottom shelf of the fridge so that she can get it and make her own cereal. Eating breakfast has been a big struggle for us. But, having it already layed out seems to be doing the trick.

Now, I know many parents may disapprove of this routine, but, I let her watch TV while eating her breakfast. This just works for us. It allows me time to finish getting ready for work, and it gives her a chance to really wake up and be ready for the day.

4.) Backpack and lunch box is packed and ready to go the night before. I try to make sure that everything that needs to go back to school (lunch money, teacher notes, etc) is already packed and ready so I don't have to think about it in the morning.

The running theme in all these steps is letting her be involved in the process. I'm very glad that my daughter is becoming so independent, but it's and adjustment for a and inpatient mom who just likes "to do it and move on".

This is what's working for me right now. Do you have any nifty tricks to get your kids out the door in the morning? I would love to hear them. I'm always looking for new and better ideas for home and time management.


This is linked to Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family.