Beat the Morning Rush
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Dress with Success
Hang It Up: "I used to fight with my daughter every morning over her outfit," says Debbie Emmerich of Lynbrook, New York. The breaking point came when Debbie packed Mary Kate, now seven, off to kindergarten in a sailor shirt. "When Mary Kate arrived at school, she wouldn't get off the bus because she hated her shirt," recalls Debbie. The driver had to carry her in. "I was mortified," says Debbie, who instituted a new, more successful dressing system for Mary Kate and her brother, Johnny, now five.
Each child decorated five blank labels with the days of the week and stuck them on a set of hangers. Every Sunday, the kids (with final sign-off from Debbie) set up their outfits for the week with the understanding that what they pick, they have to wear. Nowadays, clothing squabbles (as well as sailor shirts) are a thing of the past.
Create a "Clothes Kid":To make choosing clothes more fun, Hannah and Mackenzy Derrick of Rock Springs, Wyoming, made a pact with their mom, Kandi: Each night the girls would lay out the next day's clothes on the floor in the shape of a person (including everything from socks to hair accessories). Whatever their "Clothes Kid" wore to sleep, they wore to school the next day. The result? A big reduction in the number of fits thrown, says a very satisfied Kandi.
Quick Tips: Get yourself ready first, say many readers. If you're up and dressed before you wake the kids, you'll be calmer, and ultimately so will they.
Be Prepared
Have a Weekly Meeting: Sometimes it seems as if there simply isn't enough time in the morning--precisely why so many readers stressed the importance of getting things ready ahead of time. For the Osleys of Bolton, Connecticut, that process begins each Sunday after supper, when the family meets to go over the week's activities. With mom Melanie traveling frequently for work, dad Robert working a physician's hours and assorted activities to arrange for Michael, nine, and Nicholas, four, it's a real juggling act. The Sunday powwow allows them to get everything out in the open so there are fewer surprises during the busy week, like forgotten sports equipment or sudden science projects.
Flip Over a Flip Chart: For the past few years, the Doyles of Colchester, Connecticut, have relied on a simple system to keep track of weekly activities. Inspired by her daily planner, Sandy drew up a set of index cards, one for every day of the week.
With a column for each family member, the cards list each day's routine activities, with reminders such as "Sneakers: gym today" and "take out trash." The cards are held together by a metal ring and are kept in a spot where everyone can refer to them. When activities change, Sandy simply adjusts the card or fills out a new one.
Quick Tips: Turning off the TV, many readers wrote, can make a big difference. Although some use the tube as a getting-ready reward, most find it a major distraction.
Control Traffic
Many families swore by staggering wake-up and bathroom times to prevent at-home traffic jams. Tina Murphy of Pace, Florida, went so far as to assign each of her kids--ten-year-old twins Courtney and Natalie and nine-year-old Robert--a 20-minute breakfast slot during which they have her undivided attention.
"There's a lot less 'Mom! Mom! Help me!' coming from three mouths at the same time, as well as fewer fights," says Tina. The time is a chance to go over test questions, tie shoes, pack lunches and give hugs. "I realize it takes a little longer to get ready this way," she says, "but the morning peace is worth it."
Quick Tips: Prepare for those inevitable last-minute requests by keeping a box of emergency items in the kitchen or car. Possible contents? Pencils, paper, snacks, change, a hairbrush, ponytail holders and socks.
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