New Routines

Today we are starting a new morning routine. The background for it started last week at the Hasty's house.

Eric's Aunt Helen (God Bless this woman) had to have her tonsils taken out last week. I went with her and drove her. I also stayed with her to help take care of the kids. She is raising her grandchildren. So although she is ________ years old (I won't spill it on here Auntie!!) she is raising 7 and 9 year old kids. Anyway....

When I got up on Thursday morning with the kids, they came out of their room with their clothes already on. They have their own alarm clocks that wake them up and they set them and get up on their own and get dressed in their rooms. Their backpacks were ready by the door, their shoes were ready, their coats were ready and they sat down at the table. All they wanted to know was what was for breakfast at school, and what the option was at home. They brushed their hair, brushed their teeth, said good morning, and basically waited inside for the bus. It was so easy -- I couldn't believe it.

I used to think that my kids did ok. Well, not really. I have to constantly remind them to get their hair brushed, make sure Maddie has underwear on (seriously, I have to do this), make sure they all have socks, etc. Sometimes Madelyn will sit in the middle of the floor and ask/demand that we find her socks, shoes, etc. It is madness. Eric doesn't stand for this. He simply yells that they have 15 minutes, hurry up. This causes a lot of crying and wailing and madness. I want our mornings to be happy. Truth is, it is happy for the kids, but not for me. It makes me crazy. I breath a huge sigh of relief when they leave because I put way too much work into this morning routine.

So over the weekend I bought two alarm clocks, one for each room. Last night we set them and set out clothes I and told the girls how this new routine was going to go. This morning it seems to be ok. Not as smooth as the Hasty house, but getting better... So, hopefully by the end of the week, the girls at the Johnson house will be self sufficient in the morning and I can do whatever want/need to do in the morning that doesn't involve personally dressing a 6 year old!!