[whathousework?]

I have 2 DS's in grades 2 and 4 and am at a bit of a loss as to what to do with them on school mornings. Bags are packed, uniforms laid out, and lunches made, the night beforehand, and homework is done of an afternoon. The boys get up between 6.30 - 7.00am and we leave just after 8.30am. They get their own breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, and then sit around watching TV or begging for iPad time. What goes on in your house? Yes, I'm after ideas :-)

[~THE~MAGICIAN~]

It sounds like your morning is working just fine. It doesn't sound like your kids need pushing along. What exactly do you want ideas with?

Mine is pretty similar. Kids up 6:15am (I wake them) breakfast, showers, teeth, hair, pack bags.

I make their lunches.

They usually have about 20 mins free time before we leave (7:50am) opting to play on their ipads.

[*LucyE*]

My kids do their instrument practise in the morning.

I'm a no tv in the morning kinda person because I find it so distracting. I don't mind them using the iPad if they are completely ready without any 'reminding' from me.

[EssentialBludger]

If I make lunch, pack her bag and iron her dress the night before I have a pretty easy morning.

I'm up at 6:15. I browse EB and FB while I have a few coffees and wake the kids by 7. DD eats breakfast while I get DS dressed, then DD gets dressed, does her hair and brushes her teeth while I make DS breakfast. Then all I have to do is get myself dressed. We're out the door by 8.

If I don't do everything the night before it's a bit busier, but still time to bum around a bit.

What do you want ideas with? Sounds like your morning works fine?

[aratiaw]

In my house? Lots of ignoring me, lots of trying to manage three needy little people (eldest is 6) and their various moods/tantrums/protests. If everyone leaves with a clean face, clean teeth, hair brushed, dressed upstairs instead of in a panic in the car, (same goes for shoes), all bags, hats, library books etc. remembered on the appropriate day then it's an exceptionally good morning.
As for your house, it sounds amazing. I'd say they have time to do a load of washing or empty the dishwasher for you, but if I suddenly found myself in your postition I wouldn't want to jinx it!

[whathousework?]

I seem to hear a lot from other mums, and on EB, about how hectic and rushed their school mornings are and thought I must've been missing something :/

I'd like to be a no TV in the mornings house, but have no idea what else we could be doing? I like the idea of instrument practice, but I'm not a morning person and said practice could send me postal. Hmmm...thinking..lmaybe I'll implement something like 30 minutes of reading time.

[*LucyE*]

I like the idea of instrument practice, but I'm not a morning person and said practice could send me postal.

I'm not a morning person either. Can't say I particularly enjoy the beginnings of violin lessons much. I do like to encourage learning, practice, sharing and all that, but I prefer instrument practise to occur in bedrooms with doors shut at the other end of the house to me.

I must have gone postal at the end of last year because when I suggested instrument practise last week, DS tried to remind me that I didn't like it, supposedly said it was too noisy and to please not do it. I don't remember but I don't remember much before my morning cuppa.

[zlca_mummy]

Could you use the 'spare' time for them to do some reading or extra homework if you're not wanting them to be watching tv or using their iPads?

Or have a small chore they could complete. My kids have finally worked out that if they're ready early and get their on done they are ale to have some tv time!

[ziggy72]

You are super organised. My kids are fairly reasonable in the morning and eat breakfast and get dressed mostly before watching tv. My 6 year old also unpacks the dishwasher as his chore this year which required me to rearrange the kitchen a bit to get all things stored below shelf level. If they are ready with hair, teeth face complete they can watch some tv but often prefer to be outside playing by 8am and we leave at 8.30.

I make lunches and pack bags for them in the morning.

[.Jerry.]

Sounds like you have heaps of time to have a leisurely morning.

I get out of bed at 5.30am, shower, eat breakfast, quick browse of the internet.

Molly and DP get up about 6.30am, I dress Molly, get her breakfast. I am out the door (without Molly) at 7am. DP has coffee, looks after Molly until they leave at about 7.45am.

Molly can watch TV when she is dressed and had breakfast. She usually prefers to play.