My top three tips for surviving back to school morning grind with smiles and less SCREAMING!

September 22, 2021 by Melissa Chapman

My top three tips for surviving back to school morning grind with smiles and less SCREAMING is sponsored.

I'm pinching myself that another summer full of so many firsts is now memorialized in digital form on my desktop and in the myriad of campy art projects adorning my refrigerator.

While this summer was a bit challenging I think the lessons my kids gleaned from their experiences and will stay with them for a lifetime.

Sure I am wistful for summers past that were filled with playing with Legos with my son until my fingers nearly bled, and even enjoying a VERY quick backyard camp-out under the stars, swathed in tons of bug spray– because I think I may have gotten about 20 mosquito bites in under ten minutes, BUT seeing my kids evolve into grownups Over this summer is more than I could hope for.

But now we are once again back to the grind, getting up way too early, rushing around to pack lunches and backpacks and then off to school.

I'll be honest: my kid is not jumping for joy in regards to the looming school year, so I am on a mission to get him pumped, no matter what it takes.

Recently I've been feeling so nostalgic, and yes slightly sad that in life we are constantly rushing, to get the kids to school and to my very skinny son I'm usually barking “finish your breakfast, ” and then it's a mad dash to get out of the house and not forget their lunch totes ( most days I manage this- but some days are more challenging!)

So this year I am trying to survive the back to school morning grind with less barking and more smiling– and trying to be mindful of the fact that in a few years this kid will be making his own breakfast and soon enough he will be out of the house.

I am trying to be mindful of the fact that I will miss these moments, I will miss just sitting with my son and and savoring his sweetness-

so I keep the thoughts to myself and am just trying to really be present in the moment; watch my son eat his cereal as SLOW as molasses,

In the morning I'll admit it is so hard to do just that be present in the moment- as my mind is racing with ten other things I need to do- and my rescued shih tzu is in the other room- pulling every tissue out of the tissue box with his little teeth. but I'm trying my best! And in this spirit of making mornings easier I'm sharing my three tips on making mornings easier less hectic and more fun for the family.

My top three tips for surviving back to school morning grind with smiles and less SCREAMING!

Tip #1: We ALWAYS lay out our clothes the morning before and make sure that my kids' have their book bags packed and their homework signed and put away. My son has actually even taken it upon himself to pack his own snack bag and water bottle the night before- and I am happy to outsource that task to him!.

Tip #2: I take my son- if there's time- on a morning walk with out dogs– it's a great way to bond with them- and have spontaneous conversations, teach them responsibility to their furry siblings and it's actually quite relaxing and sets a fun and friendly tone for the morning.

Sure it might add a few minutes to our routine– but I find that my son will finish his breakfast faster when he knows that there's the possibility to walk the dogs– and anything that will get food down his gullet makes my morning MUCH easier!

Tip #3: We have BANNED the use of any electronics in the morning- no iPad, cell phones or tv until ALL the busy work is done.. Those gadgets are great– but gosh darn it– they are a MAJOR time consumer– and get my kids off the get ready for school track. And to be perfectly honest- if there are any extra minutes– we are using them to encourage our kids to read! which is where the company I SEE ME website comes to the rescue!!!!

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