I am not a morning person and neither are any of my three kids. This makes things "interesting" when getting to school on time means getting up before the sun! School mornings can be chaotic to say the least, but, over the years, I have found there are a few things we can do to make them a little bit more bearable.

1. Plan ahead - I know, I know. Believe me, at 9:00pm once all the kids are in bed, the last thing I want to think about is packing the lunches for TOMORROW! However, in the mornings, I find myself thinking, "Why didn't I do this last night?!?" As difficult as it is, I have found the more you can do ahead, the better off you will be. Make sure homework is complete and book bags are packed. Check the weather and pick out clothes the night before. And, yes, pack the lunches, too - at least partially.

2. Stick to a routine - It doesn't matter if the kids get dressed before they eat breakfast or afterwards, just figure out what works best and stick to the same routine everyday. This way, kids know what is expected and it becomes a habit. If they are old enough to tell time, you can give them those parameters as well (i.e. You need to be finished eating by 7:00am.)

3. Involve the kids - Once kids are in elementary school, I think they are old enough to start helping out and, the older they get, the more they should help. Make choosing clothes part of their nighttime routine and let them help pack the lunches. If they are old enough, they can fix their own breakfast, too!

4. Make lists - I am a list maker by nature, but it is truly helpful in the mornings. I make a weekly plan for what to pack in lunches. We also have a family calendar on the refrigerator so everyone knows what's in store for the day. I frequently put post-it note reminders on the counter so I don't forget things that can't be done the night before. You can also make lists for your kids to check off (i.e. get dressed, brush your teeth, comb your hair, etc.). In the sleepy fog of the morning rush, having the lists is a lifesaver.

5. Don't hit snooze - This one is really hard for me. As I said, I'm not a morning person and I hate rolling out of bed when the alarm goes off. However, if I get a late start, then everyone gets a late start and the morning is off on the wrong foot even before we've begun. If you absolutely must hit snooze, then set your alarm to go off a few minutes earlier.

6. Insert some fun - Play some music or put a joke book on the breakfast table. When everyone is grumpy because they would rather still be in bed, adding a little fun can lighten the mood.

7. Say "Thank you!" - When mornings do go well; when the kids cooperate and get everything done in a timely manner; when they pitch in to help, say "Thank you!" and let them know that you appreciate their help. Point out how smoothly things went on the good days and acknowledge their part in the success. You could even implement a reward system if you think it will help (i.e. After 10 days out the door on time, we get to go out for ice cream!)

No matter how many of these tips you implement, some mornings are just going to go more smoothly than others. Sometimes you will oversleep or someone will irreversibly grumpy. Nothing is foolproof. However, in my years as a mom, I have found that these are some things that really help!