If there is one thing I dread about the start of a new school year, it is the mornings. I’m hoping other moms of teens can relate to the sometimes frustrating task of trying to wake a sleepy child.
Although I may not be able to do much about that, I do know that I can help us get ready for the new school year by at least planning for a smooth morning. The key to this is preparing the night before.
It used to be that most of the preparations fell on me. But in the past few years I have been teaching my children to also get things ready the night before. It doesn’t always work but I do find myself saying, “I told you so,” when one of them is rushing around in a frenzy because they can’t find something.
Having all of the essentials ready to go can make for a much smoother morning. That could mean having shoes and backpacks ready by the door, lunches packed the night before and clothes already picked out.
The more you can do the night before, or the more you can teach your teen to have ready, the better off everyone will be. It also means looking at the weather forecast and knowing if certain clothing needs to be worn. Or if you know your teen eats breakfast each morning, have their bowl and box of cereal already out.
Your teens are likely to have a varying schedule, where one day they might have gym and need their uniform for that and another day music lessons, where they need to remember their instrument. Having all of this ready to go will also make for a smoother morning.
But having a smooth morning is about more than just preparations and planning. Having a good night’s sleep can go a long way in combating foul moods.
This week we have been working on trying to readjust our sleep patterns, since my teens stay up late and sleep in longer. That hasn’t been easy but at least there is an attempt.
I also suggest that moms get up at least 15 minutes before the kids, to grab a cup of coffee, catch a few minutes of the news, take a shower, or whatever else will help you feel ready to take on the
new day.
What tips do you have for creating a smooth morning?
Related Articles:
Getting Ready for Back to School: Family Calendar
Emotional Preparation for School
Homework and Sleep: Do Students Receive Enough?
Photo by Alessandro Vernet in Flickr