Make the Most of 2,700 Seconds

Years ago, after a year’s worth of challenging—okay, downright difficult—mornings getting everyone ready and off to preschool, I came upon a Working Mother article that changed our morning routine...and my sanity level. I have no idea where that article is anymore, but the key point was one action item: preparation.

To this day, preparation is a key element of making our mornings go smoothly. Now with my kids helping out, I still set the table for breakfast and pack lunches the night before, get up five minutes earlier than I think I need to and have some fun “getting ready” games in my back pocket in case anyone wakes up tired and crabby.

And now, with the first day of school right around the corner, it’s more important than ever to make the most of our 2,700 seconds (that’s 45 minutes to those of us who are math challenged) in the mornings!

Here are some great ideas from Wendy Petricoff, an Overland Park native who is now an independent Love and Logic Parenting expert in Charlotte, NC.

Set the Stage  

Don’t just tell them what to do, show your kids what you want. Do you lay your clothes out? Put your own shoes by the door? Show the kids how you take care of yourself in the mornings and lead by example.

Taking some of the decision-making out of the morning equation helps, too. “I lay everything out the night before: their clothes and my clothes,” says Megan Orth, director of internal controls at www.FreightQuote.com and Leawood mother of two. “We also have the same breakfast every morning. The kids love the routine, I don't have to think about what we're eating and, most importantly, there's no negotiating.”

Practice

Yes, that’s right, practice getting ready over the weekend, when you’re not in a hurry. Together, make a list of things to do in the morning, using pictures as cues for young children. Teach your kids what you want them to do. Not only will it help on a hectic morning, but it also will help foster their independence and make your own routine less harried.

Joy Ginsburg, senior director of program integration at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Leawood mother of one agrees. “Once she was old enough, we had easy-to-pack snacks and simple breakfasts available that she could typically make on her own, or with little help from us,” she says. “Even moving cups and plates to where she can reach them herself helped create that independence. Now that she is going into third grade, my daughter is usually ready 15 minutes before I am!”

Declare “Me” Time

Get up a little bit earlier on the first few days of the routine to give yourself some extra time, suggests Petricoff. Let kids know that you are happy to help them when you are completely done getting ready. Again, with a slant toward helping your children become independent human beings, making yourself a priority can help you be an effective role model and teacher.

Give Choices

Drop the commands and give your child a lot of little fun choices, like juice vs. milk or green cup vs. yellow cup.

Go to Plan B

“Put a bag of your child's clothes in the car…just in case!” says Petricoff. “And leave at the precise time you need to go...again, with a back-up plan. Maybe that includes hot lunch for the day instead of a packed lunch.”

So take these last days of summer to find out what works for your family. Best of luck on a smooth first morning of school!

Jane Blumenthal Martin and her husband both enjoy actively parenting their two children in Overland Park.