"Hurry Up!" I used to find myself constantly saying to my kids, while keeping a constant eye on the clock, and feeling consternation at the sight of spilled egg on my son's shirt which seconded as a breakfast napkin as far as he was concerned, while my daughter still lingered upstairs deciding just what counted as worthy of being worn to nursery school.
I share below my best tips for transforming your morning madness. By changing your routine in the evening to include laying out clothes, getting backpacks and briefcases ready, packing and refrigerating lunches, setting the breakfast table, and prepping the coffee maker, you eliminate the mad scramble of the morning rush. Designate a space for each family member, such as a cubby, cabinet, or a spot in your mudroom, for items needed in order to get out the door in the morning. Patterns you set in motion eventually become taken for granted by your family as simply the way things get done around your home.
Include the Following in Your Evening Wrap-Up:
- Pack all the items you and your child need for work, school, or daycare and load the ca or place coats, bags, and lunchboxes by the door.
- Designate a shelf, basket, or area for each family member to place whatever needs to go out the door in the morning.
- Check the calendar in case your child needs sneakers for gym or a snack for a field trip.
- Pack lunches and refrigerate sandwiches -- sometimes this is easiest to do while making dinner. Put your car keys with the sandwiches if it helps your remember to add the sandwiches to lunchboxes in the morning, or put a note on the lunchbox to remind you.
- Check the weather report to plan clothing and outerwear for the next day.
- Have your child pick out the clothes she wants to wear the night before, or lay out two outfits for her to choose between.
- Choose your own outfit for the morning, and take five minutes to lay out your clothes the night before to make dressing hassle-free.
Copyright 2007 Modern Mom, LLC. All rights reserved.
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