I can't think of a better title than this, but that's basically what I say every single morning when we leave the house (sometimes in slightly more colorful language than that...cue the "no more bad language" New Year resolution). How, oh how, can I get my kids out the door at 0-dark-thirty (super early in military speak) on time, without fighting, and with all the stuff they'll need for the day?

I've tried pre-packing the backpacks the night before, putting the shoes right next to the door (with socks already inside), I pre-make lunches and snacks, I even try to wake them up a little earlier but there is ALWAYS something that makes us late. I would really like to know how people do it. Just for a frame of reference, I have four little ones ages 6, 5, 3, and 1.

Usually our culprit is that the 1-year-old or 3-year-old decides to poop right as I'm loading up the van. I guess I should factor that in, too, and just be early to wherever it is we need to go. I'm not sure why I'm so adverse to being early. I'm sure it's a lot less stressful than always running late.

Anyway, any advice on how to gracefully get out the door with a whole bunch of little kids first thing in the morning would be greatly appreciated!