"Another" Busy mum.. how do i keep my children on task in the mornings
I am sure that plenty of other mum & dad's have this problem too and i'd like to hear any of your suggestions on how you manage.
I am an "at work" working mum (i say this 'cause i know all mum's are working mums... many at home and many in the workforce). i work 4 days a week 9-3 and take my two school age children with me in the morning and drop them at school on the way to work. The problem is keeping one of them on task in the morning as well as getting myself ready. We all have breakfast together (Hubby leaves early for work so is not about to help) and as soon as we are done we have to get dressed, washed & pack school bags, three simple tasks. (Lunches are sorted by this stage). My son (8) is excellent and is often ready before everyone else and waiting in the car, my daughter (6) is a WHOLE NOTHER STORY. For example, I sent her off to get dressed this morning (already had the clothes & sock etc sorted so no issue there) after a few minutes checked the progress and she had crawled back to bed!!! ARRGH! bring out the ranting raving psyco mother ... BIG GROWL... set back on task checked back in another few minutes and she was in bed again!!!! this is just an example of what goes on daily. The process changes but everyday she loses focus and does not set about the task at hand. I try to only give her one thing to do at a time EG: get dressed.
We do all the basics right, no TV on, and get up in plenty of time, she has a balanced diet. I just cannot leave her to complete a task, sometimes she will just play, sometimes she will think it's really funny to just hide somewhere, sometimes i offer to race her & if she wins she gets to sit in the front seat of the car. we have lists on the fridge of what she needs with picture clues, we use to help us remember what we need to take each day. I am at my wits end with her and by Friday i have lost all patience with her - i don't know what to do. Please help!
RachaelB 8:10 p.m., 26 May