School morning woes

[smallchestofdrawers]

Just looking for reassurance that its not only me that's suffering really.

Compared to the toddler years mornings are a breeze but...

My DS, aged almost seven, needs to be repeatedly told to do the necessary to get ready for school; today DP was around pre-school so I handed all uniform over and left them to it- result- no jumper and I instantly turned from calm smiley mum into very angry old bag over a jumper which of course is no biggy in the scheme of things. Now the huge adrenaline spike has subsided I feel guilty.

Having to say the same thing over and over and over and over and over is literally DRIVING ME MAD. Tell me I'm not the only one going through this.

Oh no - you're definitely not the only one. I'm amazed I'm your first reply!

It' stressful and annoying.

Of course your not alone. The guilt after the initial rant is just not worth it because it makes you feel like crap for the rest of the day.

I've got 4 of the little darlings blighters 5, 8, 10 and 12 years and I devised a house point system. So you want you're DS to get dressed for school? Right. Give EACH item of clothing a points value, doesn't matter how much but I did this:-

Socks 5 points
Trousers 5 points
Polo shirt 5 points
Jumper 5 points
Coat 5 points
Shoes 5 points

So he has the potential to earn 30 points per day. Tell your DS for each item he puts on, you will add the points to his house points chart for the day from Monday to Friday. If on Friday, he's reached the magic total of 150 you have set for him for the week, he will get his reward (my lot get £1 pocket money, it could be a special TV programme he can't usually watch, extra bedtime stories with you, what ever floats your son's boat is the key here).

I use this system for everything. Cleaning their rooms, brushing their teeth, getting along nicely with each other, sharing, remembering to hand in homework.

As I've got 4 I've added in a little extra competition element; who ever gets the highest score gets £2 at the end of the week. They're usually falling over themselves to get the most points and I'm a happy mummy, everyone's a winner

DS is 13. Every day I run through the same script of have you any homework/packed your bag/had a shower/letters from school/news about after school sports etc etc ad nauseum.

I'm not sure it will ever change.

Make a poster for their door with all the stuff listed.

You are definitely NOT alone.

First suggestion is to always lay out clothes and rucksack for school the night before. Do it with your ds first, then gradually hand over until he is doing it himself (helps if clothes are neatly stacked in his drawers in distinct clear sections to make socks, pants, shirts etc easier to find).

Second suggestion is to hand the problem over to him by way of a chart such as this. Loads more examples on line.

Sorry to say that my dd, at 10 yrs, has only recently started to get herself totally ready without any help at all from me and still needs a reminder about teeth- and hair- brushing and whether she has the right book in her bag.

It is very wearing having to repeat the same thing over and over ....

Good luck with it though!

thanks all, really helps to know I'm not alone thanks for your suggestion and Autumn I particularly like your style as DS is quite obsessed with money at the mo, it might just work.