How independent are your kids in mornings?

[bathsh3ba]

I have 2 girls aged 10 and 12 and school mornings are an absolute nightmare!

We have to leave at 7.30am and as we live in a village with no bus route I have to drive them.

I get up at 6.15, their alarms go off 6.30 and I take them in a tea. They are supposed to be up and dressed by 7 but invariably I have to go upstairs umpteen times, end up telling and they eventually surface about 7.35. So far we have never actually arrived late but it is so stressful! Is this normal and what can I do about it? It's just me and them so no-one else to help. They go to bed at 8.30 but rarely settle to sleep before 9.30.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

DS(13) is totally self sufficient. Gets a call at about 7.10, jumps in the shower, dresses, has breakfast, goes up stairs to brush teeth and pack bag, then out the door by 7.50.

We take it in turns to get up with him, because it’s nice to make him feel loved and have a chat, though he doesn’t really need us. Mostly the one who got up comes back to bed for an hour.

Some of you are getting up and leaving so early: it makes me feel ill just thinking about it.

[smallgreyelephant]

My DDs, 13 & 11, are a nightmare too.
I feel like I'm fighting their body clocks every morning. It's like they are jet-lagged every morning. It feels physiological.

We have had BIG TALKS about getting up in reasonable time/ how it affects me/ us all, when I end up yelling at them. They go to bed at a reasonable time (no phones/ tech before bed or upstairs). They are decent, reasonable kids and I am no mug!

I'm thinking about getting daylight wake-up lamps? Anyone tried this?