I knew when my kids started elementary school that our lives would change dramatically. However, I didn’t realize that mornings would rapidly move from my favorite time of the day with my kids to my least favorite. Since my kids didn’t attend preschool or daycare, our mornings were a leisurely time filled with snuggles, art projects and reading books.

Once they both started school, the mornings in our house became totally different. The 45 minutes that I had with them in the morning was now filled with “Get your shoes on”, “Take three more bites of your Cinnamon Toast Crunch” and a rush to make it out the door. I usually went on a lengthy scavenger hunt for a missing sock or water bottle. By the time the door closed, I was worn out and we were all irritated at each other. I was sad as I watched my husband and kids car drive away each morning. I felt guilty knowing that I had not been the type of mom that I wanted to be during the brief time we had together before school.

So I decided to try to solve the problem…. I couldn’t change the fact that they had to be sitting in their car seats in my husband’s car by 7:45 am. I couldn’t change that there were certain things (breakfast, clothes on, hair brushed) that had to be done between the time their feet hit the floor and the time I handed them their lunchboxes. I realized that I could figure out a way to add some fun to that time together. So I came up with a plan.

Each night I get everything ready for school the night before (except lunches) and set out in the living room. This includes clothes, socks, hair ribbons, and everything that they need for school (supplies, show and tell, signed forms).

I then find a fun activity to do with my kids in the morning and set it out on the kitchen counter. Most mornings, I set out a short board game (not Candyland) for us to play together in the morning. Some days, I set out paper, a drawing book and some markers so that we draw together. On other days, I may pull out a favorite book to read together on the couch.

While the kids are eating their breakfast, I quickly pack both of their lunches. When they are done eating their waffles, I tell them that we can play Uno (or whatever is sitting on the counter) as soon as they are dressed. It still amazes me that the kids that used to take 17 minutes to get ready can actually be dressed down to their shoes and socks in under 3 minutes.

Once the kids are dressed for school, I pull out the game and we play. We laugh. We have fun. We spend time together. When my husband comes into the living room to say “Time to go”, I then walk them to the car and give them a kiss.

I’d love to be able to say that I get my act together enough to do this every morning, but I don’t. However on the days that our mornings are simply spent rushing around, I find the old feelings of frustration returning and I resolve to have fun with the kids the next morning.

On the mornings that we spend drawing dinosaurs or yelling “Uno”, I feel like a much better mom because the kids seem so much happier as they walk to the car. When I shut the door on these mornings, I think about how much I can’t wait to see them after school as I walk into the living room to pick the game pieces that are strewn all over the floor.

What tricks have you found that make your morning routine easier?

Jennifer appears Mondays on TriangleMom2Mom.