Sounds familair! Guess nearly everyone has
problems in the a.m.

Yikes! I know how you feel, but sadly, no baby. My oldest is slow, my next is quick. I don't know where he gets it, glad he has it. My day begins early, I drive my husband to work at 4am. I shop for grocerys and I'm home by 6am. My day begins with making breakfast, lunches and starting dinner. I drive my son to school, return to get my daughter and load her bike on the car. We discuss on the way to school(s) school projects, homework and tests and what they need to do when they get home. I always ask if I forgot anything to see if they're listening! I know I didn't and they sit and go over everything I just said. My kids are latch key kids and responsible for laundry and dishes - supposedly. I'm lucky if they throw their dirty clothes out of their rooms. They know if their clothes are inside out, they don't get washed. It took a few times, but it really works when they don't have any socks! Training your kids is not easy, but it can happen. Smile now, my kids are almost out of high school and I already have separation anxiety!!! I don't know what I'll do without them. By the way I work part time.

Sounds like every morning in my house, except that I have to drive the 2 eldest to school and DH has trouble getting out of bed....and I have to make the bed because when I come home from work my room is a disaster if I don't.

Well, first and foremost, I can sympathize. I have been there and done that. My only suggestion to you is make a very simple, routine (yes, it will need looking at the first few days) and write it out like a list. For example: I wake the kids up no later than 7:30 am, feed them breakfast while reviewing the lunch menu with them. Once they've finished, they make their beds, brush their teeth, get dressed, helped pack their backpacks and do the garbage or empty the dishwasher, then the TV may go on if there is time. They are responsible for getting it done in a timely manner and I just tell them what is next. There is no changing the project that is due, etc. I started this in September because my second child was entering kindergarden, so things were going to more crazy in the morning than normal.
Good Luck.

WOW! Finally, i know I am not alone! who knew the cute babies would grow to such disorganization? I have a preschooler and toddler. Now, mornings are even longer because they run, chase, fight, cry, laugh and play before we leave the house! we leave the house late, which makes me even later for work!. I've done the clutter collecting at night, organizing clothing, back packs, shoes and jackets. sometimes it works, and sometimes, all is lost!
Luckily, I only have to deal with the morning routine: pickup and dinner time is dad's duty!!

I was thinking the exact same thing...i'm so grateful for being single right now!! i'm 26, and although i'm sure i will enjoy my family when i have one, i definitely enjoy the fact that everything in my room and house is EXACTLY where i left it the night before (or even the week before!) because no one else is there to touch it. I love the fact that if I feel like sleeping in, no one else's schedule depends on me getting up. i love the fact that if i clean the house for an event going on a few days later, i know it will STAY clean because no one else is there to mess it up. :) these are things that make me happy and reading this article just makes me even more grateful for a single life.

When my children were school age, I always wondered why I didn't just dress them the night before in what they were going to wear for school the next day. It would have saved a lot of time!

Such a familar story, we decided to let our children who could tell time..we gave them what time they needed to be dressed by, at table by to eat, if they did not get completely dressed then they went to school as they were, if they did not eat because they were not dressed...oh well, they can tell the time, put the responsibility on their shoulders,at night remind the kids one or two times to set their clothes out and any thing that needed to be signed. I rarely signed much in the morning for a while. Make sure you tell the teachers what you are doing...letting the kids deal with natural consequences..after all moms do not take care of their children the rest of their lives..well some may want to. My job is to teach my children to be independent and not expect a wife to do everything for my son. Yes I was a stay at home mom for 12 years, but I was not their slave. Both my children are 18 and 14, very givening and caring. I went back to school and got my education and they learned about helping out at home. They have not rebelled at all. As far as you husband not backing you up...I too have that problem..just tell your child he must do what he is asked or......(you choose what the natural consequence is no cookies will be made or no laundry washed, no bed changed, no dinner until his chore is done. If you husband comments just tell him if he doesnet work he gets no paycheck. Why should your child not help out at home? What if your were to get extremely ill and it all fell on your husbands shoulder wouldn't he like some help? I hope this helps.

I'm a grandmother now and my day of sending kids off to school are behind me. But I feel for you. I remember also well a morning of chaos,Good luck and God Bless.Dorothy

I work as a nurse primarily on 2nd shift & unfortunately, my children are usually waiting for me in the morning. My oldest, of four, helps out immensely. The youngest is about as much a morning person as I am so we are running around in circles every morning. I recently started coming home by 2am and prepare for the 7am rush by having shoes, coats and keys by the front door. This saves at least 11 minutes. It has worked for a month now. I only hope to keep it up.

I will say that it was amazing to add a large mud-room to our home. We did all the work, saved much $. The room serves as a drop off for coats, shoes, hats. Everyone has their own spot. Also, there's an extra refrigerator. There is a table for catching my purse and husband's briefcase, and under the table two bins for the recyling. There are shelves over the coat rack's for extra's, it's all label. The mud room has become such a help to afternoon's and mornings. Thank you God for it!

Join Flylady.net and it won't take too long to become organized.

Get rid of the dog, 2 of the 3 kids (Baby and Middle), and the husband if he finds fisbee more important than his family. And then have a happy life and live longer. J

My two boys are grown (in commuter colleges) and exhibit the same behavior as when they were little. The oldest (just like yours) is boisterous, fast and disorganized the youngest is quiet, slow and very organized. Same two parents same household. As the oldest would say - "What's up with that?" But once we know who they are we know where to put our energies to help each one out. Ahh parenting...

When our kids were younger, I created a spreadsheet of the things that I thought would be useful for nanny, grandma and sitters. I would just edit the document as the routines changed, I would include feeding, changing, even helpful hints about what my children liked and what worked for me. I printed the document and posted it in by the calendar in the kitchen. Also helpful when dad would take over too!

yes, this was my life. Now lets discuss the serious lack of sleep in our children, and the crankiness it causes in all, except my husband who likes having company between 10 pm and midnight watching TV.

I loved reading the article and the comments and I now know I am not alone! Mornings are crazy! No one mentioned the 'forgotten homework' that needs to be done before school - that usually throws my morning off - that and my daughter (9yrs) who insists on taking showers in mornings and drying her waist length hair!!
And seriously? They say exercise is best when done in the morning??? When are we supposed to fit that in and get to the office by 8:30????
Help!

Can totally relate!! It's amazing how small the world really is!! Kids on different schedules. Kids with different speeds! Not making beds(except mine of course, husband usually helps make it). And last but not least--ESPN in the a.m.! However, it's our youngest that has to know the latest scores. Our two oldest must leave no later than 6:50. I then get our yougest up at 7:00. He comes downstairs, hops in the recliner, turns on ESPN, and then waits until I bring him toast or cereal. I know--spoiled rotten! It's all well and good until he wakes up before the two older ones leave and says "Mom--could you get me toast for breakfast." With that, the two older ones grumble out the door saying "we have to get our own breakfast!" Oh well, they'll get over it--I guess!LOL

AAH! Someone else that can relate to my crazy morning and I don't even need to get to work in the AM. Dealing with three kiddos 6 and under makes mornings a BIG challenge, I can't even imagine dealing with teens! More power to ya!

Sorry - but unlike the others, I don't have much sympathy. What on EARTH are you doing getting up 1.5 hours before the rest? Where are the accountabilities and rules? The Oldest set the alarm - why is it not implicit that it be obeyed? The Middle takes too long - not acceptable. Your husband does not do his half of the parenting work of his children? Again - not acceptable. I am a member of a military family. We ALL are fully aware of our role within the family, our responsibilites, and our accountabilities - as well as consequences. Parents need to do just that - PARENT - they are not their childrens' friends. Quit watching those dumb sitcoms - Children are NOT in charge, and get real!

Oh this is sooo my house, especailly looking for lunch money, schools should have a card you can swipe like an ATM card. Nothing is ever ready the night before, except on the 1st day of school. The only thing I do have on a schedule is my bathroom because i have with 3 boys and husband and one bathroom. Teenager gets up at 6:20am to be out by 7am, the middle schooler is up at 7:15am, followed by husband and then my 6 year old. I squeeze in wherever I can, unless I manage to wake by 6am (yeah right). It makes for an exciting start of the day. I will have some relief next year, my oldest is off to college!

Wow! I feel like I wrote that article! I always feel so triumphant when we all get to where we are supposed to be by 9am!! I also have 3 kids and no matter how prepared I am the night before, you never know what surprises you will encounter in the morning!

Wow! With a 1, 3, and 5 y.o. trying to get to preschool is craziness too. I am excited to see that someone recommended Flylady.
I have been receiving the emails but not committing to the system. Well, here is to a new year and possibly leaving the house smiling. God bless you all!

It's nice to know that I am not alone.