Rush Hour Strategies for Today's Busy Moms (and Dads, too!)Conquer Morning Madness:1. Chart Your Way to Success: Create a checklist for each family member and tuck it into a plastic sleeve. List out everything that needs to be done before school, i.e., eat breakfast, hand out lunch money, pack homework. Let children enjoy the feeling of success that comes with marking each item done with a dry-erase marker.
2. Wake-Up Call: Don't wait for that first Monday to begin getting up early! Adapt your new wake-up time for the whole family one week prior to school starting.
3. Gooooood Morning Family!: Start each day like Ty from "Extreme Makeover." Wish a sincere "good morning" to all (even if family members look at you funny). Just as breakfast is the most important meal for our physical needs, a sincere "good morning" is the best emotional breakfast.
Time Management Tips for Mom:1. Practice the five-minute rule: If something can be done in five minutes or less, do it right away versus adding it to your to-do list.
2. Create a Daily Action List: Let's face it, we'll never get everything done on our to-do lists. 3. Identify and choose three Power To-Do's each day to complete no matter what.
3. Mom's In-Box: Make an in-box for children to place permissions slips, notes, and any other information mom needs to review. This will teach children responsibility while saving you the "backpack" search.
Schooling Survival Tips:1. Homework Helpers: So much for counting oranges and apples, today's kids are learning information we often never heard of. Use these Internet sources for homework help: www.britannica.com, www.askjeeves.com. Type in any homework questions and watch for results. Or go to www.google.com and type in "Homework Help" and you'll find millions of options only a click away.
2. Don't Be a Stranger: It's no secret that when a parent and teacher work together, the results benefit the child. Take a moment to stop by the school and introduce yourself to your child's new teacher. Share any special considerations from the summer (a divorce, etc.) that may affect your child.
3. Mom…My Back Hurts: Instead of letting children experience some of the pain you once faced carrying them in the womb, find a backpack that works. Many children are hauling 10-20 pounds of books a day. Try a roller-pack to help save the back.
4. School Isn't Just for Kids: Adult students are the fastest growing educational demographic in the United States. If you have a passion you want to follow, today's online learning opportunities offer flexibility unavailable in the past. Check out www.classesonlineusa.com or www.educationforadults.com for an overview of today's options.
Food and Family Tips:1. Family Favorite Collection: When mom is gone or working late, providing family members with easy access to favorite recipes helps avoid costly and unhealthy drive-thru runs. Place your family's 10 favorite recipes in a clearly marked folder for easy reference.
2. Has Anyone Seen My Tomato Paste? While having other family members help with the shopping and unpacking seems like a great benefit, it loses its charm when ingredients are hard to find. Label your pantry shelves to avoid the "missing ingredient game." (This also makes it easier for other family members to navigate the kitchen.)
3. Throw a snack together (literally): For a healthy after- school energy-booster, toss pretzels, nuts, crackers, dried fruit, coconut, granola, and a few Nestle Chocolate Chips into a plastic bag and shake. Children love to create their own concoctions!
4. Mama-Made TV Dinners: When cooking a lasagna or casserole, undercook just a bit and place in single-serving microwave-safe dishes. Cover with foil, write re-heating instructions on top, and freeze. When mom is gone, pull out one of the pre-made servings, and with just a few minutes in microwave or micro-oven, dinner is on!
5. 4-Step Miracle Lunch: Involve children in lunch-making by having them fill one fridge drawer with fruit and another with veggies. Have your kids select snacks (baked chips, crackers, granola bars, etc.) and place in a pantry basket. To make lunch, choose a selection from each category, then add a sandwich. Top off lunch with an encouraging note, quote or funny joke, secretly packed in the bottom of the bag.
