What do your Dc do before school?

[runningouttaideas]

I have just been on another thread about what Dc do after school and it made me ponder on what you all do with your Dc before school? So I can compare notes too.

At the mo we are up at 7.30, breakfast, washed/dressed, watch a bit of tv, Dc usually complain they don't want to go to school, coats/bags on and in school. Although we don't have a mad rush or any major incidents they always seem tired (even though they get enough sleep) and not very 'enthusiastic' about entering school tbh.

So what do you do?

Dcs wake up anytime between 6 and 7.15 (me usually at 6.45 if I've remembered to set my alarm)

We go down and they'll have a bit of fruit, then ds will have some toast. Not dd, as she's not a big eater.

Cbeebies is usually on so that I can vegetate and have chance to wake up properly!

Then ds will get dressed...I make a point of not doing it until after he's eaten or most of his uniform would be dirty before we've left the house.

If I'm organised I'll have gone up and got dressed while the kids were eating, which is about once in a blue moon. If not I rely on my cbeebies pals to hold the kids attention for two minutes while I flap about getting myself sorted.

All the while I'll be trying to convince dd (currently a threenager) to start getting herself changed, usually to multiple shouts of "NO!"

Inevitably we'll then end up at loggerheads because she'll refuse point blank to start getting changed (usually with some I'll leave you behind's from me) and I'll then have to strip her clothes off and change her myself quickly and then all run out the door together.

The start of Kate and Mim Mim is when I know it's time to get coats on. If cbeebies were to change their scheduling, I'd be buggered.

Wake DDs 7.20 they get up 7.40 wash/brekie/dress and have left by 7.55. -13 and 15. Oh better wake them.

7:00am - get up, cup of tea, get dressed etc
7:30am - DC's (3 of them) get up, they are allowed to play in their room if they get up before.
7:30am -breakfast
8:00am - get dressed, hair
8:15am it varies depending on the day. Either a friend gets dropped off to come to school with us, I take them to that friends on route to work or my DH takes them in and works late while I go to work.

Like the idea of showers that may wake me kids up a bit but may cause probs with DS he does everything at a snails pace.

Kelly I have just noticed your post, I used to have the same routine as you 6/7 days a week (in management) but during the week I spent more time having to flit to school to have a 'little chat about DS's behaviour' so I left work when my Dd was born and still have to flit to have the little chats.

I am really not looking forward to the teenage years thank you to all those bald parents who have answered

captain what is it like to have your DH help you in a morning? That is all alien to me . DH doesn't think its his job because he works hard 9-5, 5 days a week (even when I was working my 13 hour shifts!).

louise Do you mean to tell me you use Cbeebies as a virtual nanny?! SHAME ON YOU

running I've never known any different, he's always done things even when I was a SAHM (12 years). He sees it as his responsibility as a husband and a father. He helped bring them to this earth so he is responsible for them. He got up in the night with them even when I was breastfeeding to wind and settle if needed or if they were ill. He cooks, irons, hoovers etc. etc. He's always done it even when working split shifts or 9-5, 9-9 or whatever he was working.

I have 3 DC - at 3 different schools.

DD is 14 so sorts herself out and she generally sneaks a lift with me as her school is near to DS2's school. All I have to do is make sure she is awake by 7am

DS1 is 12. He has 'organisational difficulties' so requires more 'input'. He has to pack his bag before he goes to bed. However, he requires regular reminders to get dressed, eat, sort out his lunch, clean his teeth etc etc. His school is in the opposite direction to the other DC so I am in a lift share with another family. They take him in the morning and he is usually picked up about 8:10am.

DS2 is 6. He has ADHD with ODD and requires a detailed and regular routine in order to be ready for school. He needs at least an hour as he cannot be rushed. His mornings involve Netflix, eating breakfast, sitting on the toilet (he has toileting 'issues'), taking his medication, getting dressed.... At any point this can go 'wrong' and it requires the patience of a saint some mornings to get him to school. We aim to leave the house by 8:15 with DD in tow. If he arrives late for school it throws him out for the whole day so we aim to get there for when the gate opens.

Alarm goes off at 7.10. Make tea, feed cat, put a load of washing on, assemble my lunch for taking with me. Go upstairs, wash and dress (bath in the evening before bed). Wake DH and DS (9), give them their tea. Leave them chatting or on tablet in our bed. Have my breakfast (toast). Read my book for 10 minutes in peace. Whizz upstairs to make sure DH not fallen asleep again, and say goodbye. Knock on DD (15) door. She whizzes out, gets banana from kitchen, we get get in car and go to school/ work at 7.50.

DH gets up and does breakfast (cooked) for him and DS, sorts kitchen and does dishwasher, whilst DS gets dressed. Takes him to school for 8.30 (5 mins by car) and goes on to work.

Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast.

Or piss about not getting dressed or eating breakfast depending on the morning.

Ds frequently walks to the car with one or no shoes on due to faffing.

Mornings are bloody bliss now eldest has left home. Love him to death, but OMFG the morning dramas with him were something else. Totally unable to be anywhere on time, always missing bus, losing shoes, couldn't find uniform, wouldn't leave until his hair was right, aargh.....

4 out of 7 days a week we both work and have to get DD to school so those are our busiest mornings. DH up before 7 and out by 7.30. DD comes in for cuddles with me at 7.15 and I get up at 7.30 and shower. She'll get dressed whilst I'm in the shower and make her bed. I do her hair whilst getting myself dressed then do her teeth with her. Breakfast together and out by 8.10. Drop her at school on my way to work.

I get up at half six, I get them up at half 7 and we leave the house at 8:20. They get dressed, eat breakfast, brush their teeth, sort their lunchboxes out and we go.

I get up at 6am, have coffee and chill.

Ds (5) gets up at 7 and watches tv.

7.15 dd (year 7) gets up and gets ready. They have breakfast together

7.50 I run dd to school (she has to be on site by 8.15 but you can't get anywhere near it after 8am) while dh makes ds packed lunch.

8am I get back and make sure ds teeth are brushed and then dh helps him dress.

8.35 one of us takes ds to school and the other today's, does the dishes. Then we both start work (we work from home).

I get up between 7 and 7.30 and have a shower and get dressed, and usually try to get DS (5) up at 7.30 at the latest - he is definitely not a morning person, whereas DD (3) is.

We go downstairs and have breakfast, and make DS a packed lunch. Then they get dressed in the living room and sometimes watch a programme, but usually there's no time for TV - or anything else for that matter. (I get their clothes ready the night before). Then they brush their teeth and get coats and hats on. We try to leave by 8:35 but should make it earlier as DD is very slow walking to school (sometimes she goes in the pushchair). Fortunately it's only a short walk. Gates open 8:45 and the bell rings at 8:55. I always end up rushing, even if earlier on in the morning I think I'm doing OK for time.

DSs usually read until 7, then they do maths work with DH for 10 minutes. Then TV until 7.30, then breakfast, clothes, make their beds, brush teeth, practice a musical instrument for 10 minutes. Once this is all done they can play on tablet for 5-10 minutes until we walk to school at 8.35. Or if they haven't finished their homework they do it in the morning instead of maths/music.

Before school? They just get up, washed, dressed, breakfast then leave for school.