by Stewart Wrighter
When your kids leave the house in the morning to head off to school, are they calm and confident or frazzled and screaming? If you find yourself shoving forms in their backpacks, tossing them a toast pastry and shuffling them off to the bus in the morning, you are not alone. Many homes are chaotic during the first few hours of the day, but this way of living does not help anyone. It leaves parents feeling stressed and disorganized and kids start their day feeling rushed, unhappy and unprepared. The good news is, it takes just a little effort to make a change. Simple things can alter the way the mornings go in your home and you can create a happier family with just a little bit of change. The best way to do this is by finding small ways to organize your mornings. Make sure getting ready for the day is a calm, organized experience. Install small bathroom storage so kids will have everything they need to prepare themselves for the day ahead. A medicine cabinet without a mirror helps children store their items without distracting them with their image. If kids move quickly through the tasks of brushing their teeth and washing their faces, it will leave more time for breakfast and organizing paperwork.
But that beginning was wiped out in fear
The day I swung suspended with the grapes,
And was come after like Eurydice
And brought down safely from the upper regions;
And the life I live now’s an extra life
I can waste as I please on whom I please.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Speaking of breakfast, make sure everyone in your family understands how important it is. Before beginning your day, sit down as a family for a few minutes and eat something healthy. Nobody has to cook an elaborate meal if there is no time, but at least try to include some healthy foods in the day's first meal. You can hard boil eggs in advance, cut up some fruit and serve it with slices of whole grain toast. The time it takes to make this meal in the morning is minimal, but the nutrition you are providing will last a lifetime.
The night before is when a lot of morning disorganization begins, so make sure you end the day with a few important tasks. Ensure your child has their homework completed before going to bed at night. Make a rule that any work that does not get done the night before will not be completed at the breakfast table. You child will quickly learn to finish things in the evening so there is no need to rush to get it done once the sun is up. Anything that needs to be signed by parents can also be handled the night before so there are no last-minute decisions being made about important school matters.
Dark is my day whiles her fair light I miss,
And dead my life, that wants such lively bliss.
—Edmund Spenser (1552?–1599)
Make sure your child leaves the house with a healthy lunch. All of the good feelings from an organized morning can vanish quickly if your child ends up eating a candy bar for lunch. The night before is a great time to get lunches packed if there will not be time in the morning. You can even have your child pack their own lunch and the lunches of the rest of the family members with a little nutritional guidance.
Finally, be sure your child looks forward to coming home when their day is done. One of the best ways to have a stress free day is to know you are headed home to a warm, supportive place. Even on days when things do not go as planned, at least you will have home to look forward to. Stewart Wrighter recently sent his son to college so he bought a couple of small bathroom storage units for his dorm room. His wife ordered a medicine cabinet without mirror for her daughter's new apartment.