Our School Morning Routine

Our School Morning Routine

School-morning-routine

*based on our average school morning routine* 

7:30am – Mr 7 year old appears beside the bed and immediately starts telling me something about minecraft. No “Good morning Mum”, no “Hey Mum, are you awake?” just “Did you know, on Minecraft, that Stampycat built a sky island? So did Squiddy. They did a sky island challenge. They used……………….*10 minutes later*……. and that’s why you need a Nether Portal and….” “Mmmmhmm buddy, just give me a minute to wake up, okay?” He runs back to the computer.

7:45am – Miss 3 year old is still asleep next time me and snuggling in. She’s so warm and cosy and cuddly and…..

8:00am – … BEEP BEEP BEEP!!! The back up alarm goes off! QUICK! GET UP!

8:01am – I dump Miss 3 year old onto a chair and tell Mr 7 year old it’s time to switch off the computer and have breakfast. “What can I have for breakfast?” “Toast, cereal, or yoghurt.” “What else?” “That’s it.” “Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm” – I start making my coffee – “I’m huuunnngrrryyyy!” “What do you want for breakfast?” “I don’t knoooowwwwww” “You can have toast, cereal or yogurt.” “Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm” – I start putting together lunches – “What’s for breakfast?” – Blank stare – “Okay, I’ll have toast.” – I make toast. Miss 3 year old asks “Where’s my toast?” “OH! I forgot about your breakfast!” – I make a second lot of toast. 

8:20am – I load the school bag up with lunch, wipe around the benches and usher the kids off to their bedrooms to get dress. “Your uniform is on your bed.” “Okay.” I dress Miss 3 year old.

8:25am“Are you dressed yet?” “No” “Why not?” “Because I just have to do one thing.” “No, you have to get dressed.” “Okay, but, I just need to…” “Come on buddy just get dressed.” “Okay.”

8:30am“Why aren’t you dressed yet?!”  “I just…..” “Come on. Hurry up.” “Ugh! FINE!”

8:35am“You all dressed?” “Yup!” “Great, let’s go!” “I have to take something to school today.” “What is it?” “Our teacher said we have to bring a book in and talk about it.” “Okay then, choose  a book”. “I don’t know what book to take” “When did she tell you this?” “A few days ago.” “Awesome. Quick. Grab something.” “I don’t know what I want.” “How about *this* one?” “No. I don’t want that one.” *deep breath* “Okay. Just pick something!”

8:40am“OKAY EVERYONE SHOES ON NOW!” – kids scurry to put their shoes on – “I’ll go reverse the car.” – I reverse the car – “Why haven’t you put your shoes on?!” – I put their shoes on.

8:43am “GET IN THE CAR!” – finally everyone gets in the car – “Oh crap! I forgot your drink bottle!” – I race back inside to find and fill up a drink bottle.

8:45am – I attempt to reverse out of the driveway into heavy morning traffic

8:47am – “Mummy, did you know we’ve been sitting here for 2 minutes?” “Yes.”

8:48-8:55am *Both children talk continuously at me, asking me obscure questions like “Why is the sky blue?”, getting increasingly louder to be heard over the top of each other.*

8:55am – Pull into the “Drop and run” zone at school. Miss 3 year old unbuckles her own seat belt. “You’re not getting out of the car.” “Oh! I did not know.” (She does this every morning) I get out of the car to re-buckle her, while shouting loving goodbyes at Mr 7 year old as he runs off. I get back into the car and realise the drink bottle is on the front passenger seat. I become the person I hate the most by quickly running after him – leaving the car in the drop and run zone. I get back into the car with my head down to avoid eye contact with other parents and quickly pull away.

8:58am – I quietly congratulate myself as I drive away from the school because I managed to get him dropped off on time. Overall this morning was a success.

Rachel Stewart

Rachel is the founder of Parenting Central. She is raising two children, boy and girl, with her partner. Rachel is obsessed prams, car seats, carriers and all things baby. She has worked in the baby industry for several years, for both suppliers and also in a retail setting and has developed a passion for connecting parents with the right products to make their lives easier. When Rachel isn't playing with prams she's enjoys crocheting, drinking coffee (sometimes wine) and spending a little too much time on Facebook.

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