Good Morning, Sunshine! Proper planning the night before can simplify the morning routine and make it pleasant.

Winter break was great and it's time for school again! It is always hard getting back into the regular routine after a nice vacation.

My husband is a firm believer in making sure the kids start their day off on a happy note. So what does that mean? That means, you won't hear us yelling at the bottom of the stairs, " It's time to get up now! You are going to be late for school!" My husband and I both will make a concerted effort to go to the kids’ bedroom and say " Good Morning, Sunshine. It's time to get up." Think about it. Doesn't it make sense? Starting your day on a happy note helps you put yourself in the right mindset for having a good day and getting ready for learning.

To make sure the morning continues on that positive note, you need to do some planning. Here are some helpful tips:

The night before*:
1 - Plan the day's outfit (or even better the outfits for the entire week)
2- Agreement on breakfast and lunches for the week
3 - Pack the backpack
4 - Make sure they get to bed on time

*Involve your children in the decision making process to avoid squabbles in the morning

In the morning:
- No TV. (It can be too much of a distraction. Look at weather on your smart phone.)
- Have a Morning Check List:

• Get dressed.
• Eat breakfast and have your vitamin.
• Brush your teeth.
• Comb your hair.

I can't say our mornings are always this perfect, but we try. For those of you who have read my previous post, this will sound familiar. Ask my kids how they are today. I hope they say " I'm fantastic!"

Have a good day!

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