Sometimes I feel like a drill sergeant when getting my daughter ready for school in the morning. We have such a tough time getting out the door. I’ve been told many times to let my 8-year-old do more on her own, but I’m afraid giving her more responsibility will only lead to more confusion and delay… like Sir Topham Hatt tries to avoid. I want her day to start off on the right foot, but sometime I feel like I’m stressing her out before she even gets to school.
The hardest part is actually getting my daughter out of bed. I think she could use more sleep, but after homework, gymnastics and bath time it’s difficult to get to bed before 9:00, sometimes even 9:30. A friend suggested I get her an alarm clock, so she can get up on her own. Well, we bought the clock. We’ve never used it because it’s loud enough to wake up the entire neighborhood! Other moms have also recommended having outfits laid out to save time in the morning. I let my daughter put together her own outfit once. The clothes weren’t nearly warm enough for the 30 degree temperatures, but she tried.
What I’d like to work towards to maintaining focus in the morning. We always seem to get off track and end up rushing. I have an only child and I sometimes wonder if she often seems distracted because she has no one else to follow. She ends up standing in the middle of the room staring off into space.. sometimes dancing around, or playing with whatever gets her attention. My sister calls it “catching butterflies”. She forgets the mission at hand and requires constant redirection.
My daughter loves going to school, but nothing that involves getting there seems to stick. One morning she walked out the door without shoes. Luckily I noticed that, but one day I failed to see her get into the car without her backpack. She cried out in the car drop off line that she’d forgotten it! And then I wanted to cry. Funny thing is… my daughter does one thing religiously every morning without being told, and that’s making her bed. I don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong… it’s great and all, but it actually slows us down in the morning. I’m not going to mess that up though. I’m going to love it when she’s a teenager who makes her bed.
Believe it or not… things are getting a little better as I continue come up with ideas to streamline our morning routine. I only give her two or three tasks at a time and they’re always the same ones together... like brush your teeth, put on your shoes and immediately come down stairs. Yes… come down stairs has to be included or she’ll stay up there all morning. How quickly she can get those tasks accomplished determines what’s for breakfast... something hot at the table or something cold in the car. Ultimately, I want her time with me to be pleasant and not stressful. It’s all about making good memories. Even if it’s just the small moments we share between a little sleep and a big day at school.
Weekends and days off......that's the best time to prepare. I'm a single mom of two (11yrs and 6 yrs old)Full-time job and reservists.
They make their beds every morning. But the weekends I prepare my meals for the week and clothing for the week. At that time is where I approve or disapprove outfits. Keep in mind, I still let them choose.
I always keep a change of clothes or additional clothes in the trunk just in case they slip one on me on the way out the door. Also for possible trips to the park.
As I can remember school clothes were not something we wore to play in. ......lol
The conversations in the car or much better.
Posted by: Rhonda | 04/28/2011 at 01:27 PM
Hop on the scale every day and chart your progress.
Posted by: l-arginine blood pressure | 02/07/2012 at 06:10 AM