When my eldest son, now ten, was just five, I discovered him on a Sunday morning, fully decked out in his soccer gear—cleats and shin guards included—at an astonishingly early 6:00 AM. “Why are you dressed already?” I inquired. “Soccer doesn’t start until 10:00 AM!”
With cool confidence, he replied, “I don’t want to be rushed.”
I get it. I’m that parent who rushes the kids every morning. I apologize! But no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to orchestrate a calm, happy exit from our home. Is there anyone who can manage this feat aside from Mary Poppins?
There seems to be an unexplainable phenomenon at work. Regardless of how much time we have before school or other morning activities—believe me, with my kids waking up at the crack of dawn, we sometimes have hours—the final 20-30 minutes morph into complete chaos. We transition from a serene scene of coloring books to a scene straight out of a disaster movie. My heart races, and suddenly it’s game time.
With 20 minutes to go, I start issuing commands: “Finish getting dressed! Grab your socks and shoes! Where’s your saxophone?! You can’t leave with your hair like that! No makeup! Take off that Halloween costume! Go to the bathroom! Tie your shoes! Where’s your lovey? What happened in your room? Flush the toilet, for crying out loud! I have no idea where your school ID is! Who left slime on the counter? We’ll feed the fish later! MOVE IT!”
Inevitably, we end up scrambling, grabbing mismatched shoes, jackets, baseball gloves, and library books, colliding with each other like characters in a video game. And just when we think we’re ready to leave, someone remembers they need to use the bathroom again or refill their water bottle.
By the time we finally reach the front door, I’m utterly exhausted. That’s when my lovely husband usually appears, offering me a to-go cup of coffee and a handwritten note that reads, “You got this!” In the midst of the chaos and the pressure to avoid a late slip at school, I can barely manage a weak smile and a quick hug before dashing out the door. I know, it’s not my best moment.
Over dinner last night, I caught up with my old friend Lisa from LA. She started firing questions at me.
“How many days a week do you feel put together for drop-off?” she asked.
“One or two,” I admitted.
“How many days do you wear workout clothes?”
“Three or four.”
“And how many days do you actually work out?”
“Maybe once.”
“Days you drop off the kids in something you slept in?”
“Once every two weeks.”
I explained that it could be more often, but with my four daily drop-offs in New York, I have to go inside each school and engage with other parents. By 9:15 AM, I’ve greeted at least 50 other parents who are equally frazzled from their own morning rush. Lisa was shocked.
“I just have to get in my car,” she said. “Unless I’m late. Then I have to park and go into the office for a late pass. It’s embarrassing if I’m in my pajamas!”
“How many times have you been late this year?” I probed.
She looked up, calculating. “Six.”
“Six?!” I exclaimed.
“But only by like two minutes!” she clarified. “Never more than ten. It’s the traffic! What am I doing wrong?”
As she sipped her martini, I walked her through her morning routine. If she left a few minutes earlier, she’d be just fine!
While I’m no expert, here are some strategies I’ve found helpful to ease the morning madness. Unfortunately, they don’t eliminate the stress of getting the kids ready without any tardy slips—every single day feels overwhelming.
1. Shower Early
On days when I need to look presentable, I shower as soon as the first child wakes up—even if it’s at 5:30 AM. I often do it in their bathroom, sometimes even with them. Nothing keeps little ones occupied like a shower filled with their favorite toys. Sure, there are days I end up freezing in a towel, but at least I’m clean.
2. Outsource Breakfast
My husband takes on breakfast duty while I wrangle the kids. I know that not everyone has this advantage, and I’m grateful daily that I married someone who helps out and can cook. If he’s unavailable, I stick to quick breakfasts: Life cereal with banana or instant oatmeal. Quick and easy.
3. Minimize Breakfast Drama
I can’t handle breakfast complaints anymore—“I don’t want this fork!” or “I want the pink cup!”—the list goes on. Breakfast needs to be drama-free and wrapped up at least 30 minutes before we leave. Older kids should be dressed and fed, while younger ones can change clothes after eating to avoid mess.
4. Pack Bags the Night Before
Ensure school bags are ready to go with instruments, playdate notes, sports gear, and leotards all packed by bedtime.
5. Create False Deadlines
Aim to be in the elevator by 7:40 AM, no exceptions. Yes, the big kids usually finish early, but it gets me home to the little ones sooner.
6. Medication
Just saying—sometimes a little help goes a long way.
Last week, my younger daughter looked at me at 3:00 PM and asked, “Mom! Why are you still in your pajamas?” I insisted they were my comfy clothes, but she wasn’t convinced. A tutu-wearing toddler judging my outfit choices—oh, the irony. When you’re a mom, darling, you should wear whatever you like; just make sure you’re not late.
In summary, mornings are hectic and often chaotic for parents navigating school drop-offs. While there are strategies to ease the process, the stress of getting everyone out the door on time remains a daily challenge. For more insights into parenting and family life, check out our guide on fertility options and family planning, and visit this excellent resource on in vitro fertilisation for comprehensive information.
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