After a month of Yom Tov schedules and late nights, the first few school mornings back can feel like everyone forgot how this works. Here are a few small things that make it easier.
If a few of your kids share a bathroom, start with 2. Once they're mostly done, wake the next ones. There's a lot less banging on the door and yelling that someone's been in there forever.
Let them eat and brush their teeth first, then get dressed. Someone's going to spill milk at some point, and it's much easier when it lands on pajamas than on a school shirt at 7:30.
You know the one. Sit down on their bed and start reading a book they like, out loud. Most kids can't help listening, and before long they're sitting up and you're halfway there. It works on older kids more often than you'd think.
Shirt, skirt or pants, socks, underwear and hair clips all go in one pile. If you can do a few days' worth on motzei Shabbos, even better.
When they get home from school, they fill up their bottles and stick them in the freezer. That's one thing off your list in the morning, and their water's still cold at recess.
A new coloring page or a sheet of stickers is enough. Nothing fancy. It gets them to the table and keeps them there while you finish the last lunch or find the missing shoe.
This one's for us. The text and the quick load of laundry can wait. Get everyone out the door first, then pick up your phone.
Every house has that one trick that saves the morning, and we want to hear yours! Share it in the comments so we can all try it this week.
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