What a nightmare of a morning!

[daddys3chicks]

Getting Katie up and ready for school has been a real struggle this week. But this morning was the worst!

DH started getting her up when he left at 6. At 6:30 she was still under the covers. I nagged her until 6:50 when she started moving. She still wasn't completely ready by 7:15. She has to be at school by 7:30.

The past 3 mornings we have gotten there just after 7:30, but she wasn't tardy because the teachers were still out helping with the carpool line.

Yesterday morning I told her that if this morning she was slow we were staying home from school. Amanda and I went and got in the van and waited....and waited.... When the van clock clicked over to 7:23 I shut the garage door and headed back inside.

Katie was on her way out and started screaming and bawling that she wanted to go to school. (There is a blessing in there somewhere). I told her to get in the car. I also told her she could not play Toontown online this afternoon (she loves this game).

That set her off even more. She also didn't get her reading assignment done last night after she told me she was going to do it. So, I told her she owed me 3x the time tonight.

We got to school at 7:38. the carpool line was already blocked off - they use the circle for PE during the day. I had to back out and let her out in the Bus lot.

She was all red faced from crying. Ugh. I don't know what else to do. She is not going to bed any later. Her clothes are laid out and ready to go. All she has to do it get up, get dressed and brush her hair and teeth. Her bookbag is ready too.

Here's hoping tomorrow is better......

[lynn]

Cheryl,

Remind me, how old is she? I had this same problem with my 13 yo when he was about 10. As hard as it sounds, since she is choosing this behaviour, make her suffer the consequences. If she isn't ready by your set time, make her stay home. No games, no tv. Is her teacher an approachable person? If so, then maybe you could brainstorm with her re Katie's uncompleted reading assignments and establish a "jumping off" place you could begin at. A good teacher is a great resource!

Sounds like to me you have prepared the possible "slow me down" things the night before....so this is really HER choosing, not yours. So it could be a clashing of the wills, so to speak. When you let her be responsible for her behaviour, and don't intervene or give in to her, she will soon learn to be a little more responsible. Every step they take is one of a little more independence and if you are taking up the slack for her, she will never learn. And sometimes that is so very hard for mama and child. We see their shortcomings and want to step in and help, but I think.....in the long run, we are really hindering the growth process. And let's face it, growth hurts. It's about changes and sometimes, "uping the bar". So let her learn from her mistakes, and make sure she knows that if SHE chooses this behaviour, she will suffer the consequences. And just know, that the tears she's shedding will make her more responsible. Try to ignore them if you can. I know from experience how hard that can be for us moms.......ugh....

Hugs to you. I know from reading your posts that you are a great mom. Hang in there. When she sees she can't budge you, she will learn.

Praying for you! {{Cheryl}}

[daddys3chicks]

Thanks - She has set a goal for herself of not missing any days of school this year. She really likes school, so the threat of not going is a good one. It is frustrating when you have all the lights on, keep telling her to move etc. As Scarlet said "Tomorrow is another day!"

[lynn]

Oh yes....thank goodness for a fresh start every day.

[daddys3chicks]

Oh - she's 8 BTW Lynn.

[braided-rug]

If school started at 8:30 or 9 I would understand but it is so early. I remember I had the kids out for ballet at 7 every Saturday and it was a struggle, they usually slept in the car for an hour. Ballet was 1 1/2 hours away.

When I was 11 I went to school on a bus that left at 7:30. Mum put me in the bath from 6 to 6:30 I guess it gave me a chance to wake up on the frosty mornings while breakfast was made and the kitchen heated.

Don't do anything different to what you did this morning, she got out the door and after a few days will get used to the routine. I know it isn't early but I had to get five out the door at 8:20 to beat the traffic and I remember this, there was one that came out at the last minute all the time. I noticed last school year, he could run to the car and took it seriously so it turned well.

[braided-rug]

Tomorrow morning I will be in the same boat.

I have to wake up 5 children with the help of dh at 4am to be ready to leave before 5 with a whole trailer packed as well. Tonight we have a birthday party but it will be finished by 6pm. When we come back on Sunday I have to have a bag packed for a camp Monday.

I haven't remembered where I was up to this morning, but this thread did remind me to wash a dress for myself to wear.


If you could try to help Katie out of bed very sweetly, actually physically help her out of bed if she will let you, maybe with a promise of a hot chocolate.

My 9 year old we try to get to bed about 8:30 so it would be very early for your daughter, ours still sleeps in a bit, she did this week, but it has been very hot until now and people have gotten tired.

My Mum later on when I was 14 left for work at 7 so we had to get ourselves ready. Her tactic was to come into my room just before she left (I didn't have to get to school til later) and say "good morning" in the loveliest voice. Then she left, the exact same thing each day.

I get great inspiration from Ma Ingalls from Little House, the way she used to try to keep everyone's spirits up.

We sometimes brush our 9 year olds hair for her if we are running late, you have to keep kids moving. So brushing her hair is kind of keeping her going. I even pop her t-shirt over her head sometimes.