Getting Out the Door on Time

Phew! I'm tired just reading this. LOL (kidding).

I am a single working mother of three kids, ages 9,9 and 10 years. I have been a single mother since they were teeny tiny. So somewhat of a logistics expert.
First bit of advice. Talk to the 4 and 7 year old, tell them you are going to school and that they are going to help you by being a part of team Mommy. This makes them feel part of the solution, not part of the problem. I call my kids team. "Team need your help" "Team we gotta get out the door now etc"
Second, Prepare absolutely everything you can at night before bed. Lay out the clothes, sweater jackets. Pack the backpacks and diaper bag. I don't suggest putting them in the car at night, because you'll need to add lunches and baby milk in the morning.
Third, and it will be difficult at first but the 7 year old and the 4 year old can dress themselves. 4 year will need help with zippers and what not, but can do it. Mine started that young. That will help you out a lot.
Fourth, get up at least 45 minutes before you have to wake the kids, pack the lunches.

I won't lie, unless you are one of those morning people (I am not) it will be really challenging some mornings but the more preparation you do before morning hits the easier it will go.

And Way to go on going back to school, that is fabulous.

Good Luck
L.

I'm not going to school or have 3 kids... BUT, no matter where we have to go, I ALWAYS try to get everyone ready, at least 1/2 hour before we actually have to leave the house, including being IN the car and buckled in and the car leaving the drive-way.

That way, we are always "on time" and not rushing around like mad-men.

I always wake up at least 1/2 hour earlier than everyone else... and I get ready and prep everything then. Then it's less of a mad-rush by the time everyone else wakes up and I have to get them ready. On time. I also wake my daughter for school at least 15 minutes earlier than need be, so that I don't have to "rush" her.

Meanwhile, I already have their bags and diaper bag etc., all ready, from the night before, and I put it in the family van the night before, already.

This is what helps me, on a daily basis, to make sure we are ALL ready on time. Doing things the night before, and "ahead" of time, even me waking up earlier, helps a GREAT deal. Better than waiting down to the wire and then all having to rush around each morning.

I also drive my daughter to school at least 1/2 hour before the 8:00 bell rings, so that we can all (me and my son) walk her to her classroom... and then that way we don't have to rush.

I even have figured out any "short-cuts" in our driving my daughter to school, just in case there are traffic-jams on the way... this SAVES time immensely, and doesn't stress me out, on the drive over, and we are not late that way.

ALSO, try and figure out "who" will drive what child where... I'm sure your Hubby can drive at least one of your children to their school/babysitter? That alone will help a great deal. And WHO will be picking up your children from school/babysitter? THAT is crucial too. For you to have to do it all, and all the transporting, will be arduous, if not.

I always figure in 1/2 hour early... for anything or any time deadlines. Then we are rarely "late." I even figure in how much time it takes for me to buckle in the kids in their car-seats and me too... then less rushing around. Every minute counts...

And YES... enlist your Hubby for morning duty too... every little bit that he can help, even if just changing your baby's diaper when he/she wakes up, is crucial and helps YOU a great deal.

All the best...
Susan

Kudos for you. Can your husband help? Can he get the kids breakfast? The one thing that helps us get out the door in the AM is delegate. Teach your children to get dressed themselves, the older ones of course. They can both brush their teeth themselves, I always do it for them at night but they do mornings. I do their hair 15 minutes before departure for my daughter, DH does my son's hair. I have to set my alarm each morning for 8AM, the time we need to be headed for the car to be at school on time. If they are not dressed they go as is. My daughter, 3 yrs old had to get in the cold car only once with just a shirt and jammies. My 6 year old can get himself breakfast most mornings. I leave a small bottle of milk on the fridge door for him for cereal. On cold mornings one of us will make him instant oatmeal or scrambled eggs. He can now make himself frozen waffels. Like PP said, get as much laid out as possible, bottles filled and lunches packed. Put school bags in the car the night before, diaper bag too if you can. When the timer goes off have everybody start walking to the door, even you. The kids will learn with practice it just won't be easy at first. The 7 year old can help the 4 year old with dressing if needed. The family is a team and teams work together. That is our family moto.

Hope this helps,
K.

I am so proud of you and understand wanting to figure out the logistics of getting every1 out the door!
My advice is to lay out their clothes, pack lunches, pack the car, the night before.
Good Luck to you.
We need more great teachers!!

Getting an online business can make all of these easier. You get to stay at home and have flexible hours to work and you also can make very good money. There are ways to have both: take good care of children and making good money with a careet. Just if you know how to get it started and you can get to learn about it.

Greetings ~ You've already received great advice on the logistics of getting out of the house - I would just like to add my two-cents worth on nursing. I went back to work (full-time) when my DS was 8-weeks old (this was a while ago, so I'll try and remember my schedule) and continued to exclusively nurse (or express and bottle feed) until he self weaned at 11-months (by which time I quit to stay home). Anyway, I nursed at 7am (and expressed anything left), then expressed at 9, noon and 2pm. I left work at 4pm (ready to burst) and picked DS up at 4:30 and nursed immediately (again, expressing anything left). Then nursed and expressed through the night. I sent pre-packaged milk with DS to the babysitter with instructions not to feed him after 3pm - so he would be hungry when I picked him up. This system worked for us, I continued to have ample milk supply and DS had no problems going from breast to bottle and back. Good luck to you!

M.,
I will pray for you. You are taking on a lot at one time. Is there anyway to do some of the classes on line? How long do you have to be at school each day? If you find it is becoming overwhelming, do not beat yourself up. No one does it perfectly. If they paint a picture of perfection, they are lying to themselves and you. Life has its ups and downs and unexpected events. Get as much help as you can, have a sounding board for yourself; such as a mate, a friend and mamasource. Make adjustments along the way and try to get some sleep whenever possible. Eat well, often, drink plenty of water and enjoy your family. Remember you chose to have them and they really do need you! Best to you and yours.

E.:)