We all like a little variation in our routines, and kids are no different. If you drive your child to school every day and live close enough, plan to walk to school for a change. It's amazing how energized a child can get just at the thought of doing something different. For older kids who ride the bus each day, plan to drive them to school or arrange for a carpool once a week.
Show you care
There are many opportunities for parent participation in school, from being a speaker on career day to becoming a room mom (or dad) to offering to chaperon a field trip. Most kids look forward to the days when their parent will be at school, so keep them posted on your plans and try to join in on school events as often as your schedule allows.
Breakfast blahs
We all know how important it is for kids to be well rested and well fed before going to school. But if toast and cereal have lost their luster in your house, try getting up 10 minutes earlier and surprising them with some eggs and sausage. The aroma may raise some eyebrows and make them venture out of bed. Or cook up a batch of pancakes over the weekend and freeze them -- one minute in the microwave and you've got an instant short stack.
Time for you
Do you like to read the paper in the morning, or relax with a cup of coffee for 15 minutes in peace? Since having kids, those days may seem long gone, but you can get them back by making a small change. Get up 30 minutes or more before your family does and take time for yourself. Do a 10-minute workout or just read your favorite magazine -- the idea is to have some uninterrupted time. For best results, get yourself ready for the day before anyone else gets up. That way you won't be rushing out the door still trying to brush your hair or put makeup on.
You may find that your mornings run smoothly for weeks, even months at a time, then suddenly something happens and there's a shift. A swing in the tide may come from a child getting a cold, a three-day weekend or just boredom from doing the same thing day after day. So keep these tips close at hand and refer to them once in a while or when your morning goes from calm to chaos overnight!
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BIO
Patricia Swackhamer is a San Francisco Baby Area freelance writer/editor. She worked for two years as the Web Producer/Editor of the Family Channel at Women.com, covering issues on parenting, primary and secondary education, family fun and family dynamics. Ms. Swackhamer is also the creator of Baby Draw, the baby shower game by Swack Enterprises. Her second product, a travel dispenser for powdered baby formula, was patented in 2002 and is currently undergoing market research and development.