Name: Desire'e

Fargo, ND

Number of kids: 2

Ages of kids: 6.5, 2.5

Problem: School starts [soon]. I work part time (8-12), four days a week and my children have been in daycare 1/2 days all summer. Because of normal summer activities and the length of the daylight, my children have stayed up a little later then they would during the school year, and have probably gotten a little less sleep than normal. With school approaching fast we have started to scale back evening activities and try to get into an earlier bedtime routine. Our mornings this summer have been stressful for all, as they are crabby, and probably a little tired. We have had our share of early morning battles and we all end up going off to start the day a little frazzled. I would like some ideas on how to make the morning go smoother. ( I already have planned to get them in bed earlier and have everything laid out for the next day i.e. clothes, backpack etc.)

Solution submitted by AJ from San Diego, CA: Hope you are sitting down for this one, but it worked for me: No TV from 4PM Sunday to 4PM Friday. Bed at eight. Now this sounds awful, but it worked in two ways. One, the afternoons and evenings were calmer and more quiet, and therefore more restful. At eight, they are in bed reading. If they are reading, they can stay up until 8:30, but then lights are out. Two, as a result they got more "down time" and weren't crabby in the morning anymore. I couldn't believe how readily they took to it, it's great! The whole house is more calm, and the kids are more willing to help me around the house in the evenings. It has actually made us closer.

Another solution submitted by Sharon from Alberta, CAN: Desire'e, getting the kids to bed early and preparing everything the night before will help. (Giving the older child responsibility may teach them valuable skills in maturity). Perhaps getting yourself up an hour early will give you a head start on the new day. Get the kids up a half hour early too, they'll have this extra time to get the cobwebs out and be able to accomplish their morning activities hopefully with less hassles. Good luck!!