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June 23, 2014 by: Shell

My Summer Parenting Goal

During the school year, our mornings are stressful because it seems like I’m getting four of us ready to get out the door on time. Or three kids and the hope that I’ll make it out of my pajamas.

I’ve given my kids more responsibility, getting their backpacks packed, getting dressed, getting their shoes on, all that sort of thing.

back to school

But because we actually have to be at school on time, I’d end up helping.

I’d read blog posts about how you need to make your kids responsible for being on time and if they can’t, then they have to suffer the consequences.

The problem with that is the only one really having to deal with the consequences of being late during the school year is me. There isn’t detention or taking away of privileges like participating in sports practices like what happens at the middle/high school. Instead, I have to go inside the school and sign my kids in(which means I really had better gotten out of those pajamas) and if the two big kids are late, they make the youngest late for his school, meaning I have to deal with an insane drop-off line at preschool.

So, much as I’d tried to make them responsible for getting themselves ready for school, I’d still end up helping out way too much.

But in summer. Ah, glorious summer.

Oh, boys, you want to go to the pool? Sounds great! But we have to leave the house by 10 or we aren’t going. So, you need to eat breakfast, brush your teeth, put on your swim trunks, a t-shirt, and your flip flops, gather together whatever toys you want to take, and be ready to leave before 10.

No reminders, no nagging, definitely no yelling. They can either do it or they don’t.

The goal is, by the end of the summer, they’ve gotten used to getting themselves ready and out the door in a reasonable amount of time so that when school rolls around again, I only have to worry about getting myself out the door in something other than pajamas because the kids will be able to do it all on their own.

Is there anything you are working on with the more flexible summer schedule?

The Best Years of Our Lives
Meds Aren’t Given Out Like Candy

Comments

  1. Tracie says

    June 23, 2014 at 10:17 am

    This is a great idea! 

    Now…do you have a plan for getting husbands out the door on time without your help? Because I really need one of those this summer (so I can sleep in more often). 

    • Shell says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:20 pm

      Now, him, I let go on his own. If he’s late, he’s late. 😉 

  2. Alison says

    June 23, 2014 at 10:43 am

    I think that is a GREAT plan!

    • Shell says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:21 pm

      It’s a lot easier to stick to this in the summer. Really hoping these habits stick! 

  3. Amy @ Counting My Kisses says

    June 23, 2014 at 10:50 am

    Oh how I LOVE THIS!!!! My big girls are 3 + 5 and I think they are old enough that we can try this. The hard part is holding firm –> I’ll  be sad when it’s 10am + they aren’t ready + we have to cancel the pool plans for the day. But the long term goal of easier school mornings will make it worth it!! 

    • Shell says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:21 pm

      It is sad but it makes them see you’re serious. Plus, you can always do something else fun that day, later on. 

  4. Jennifer@Feel That Fire says

    June 23, 2014 at 10:53 am

    That’s such a great idea!!

  5. E. RaMona says

    June 23, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    That’s such a great plan! I really hope it works out!

  6. Natalie says

    June 23, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    Now that’s a great summer plan my friend!

  7. Preslaysa says

    June 23, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    Great summer plan! One thing I’m working on this summer is having my children spend more time playing outdoors. 

    • Shell says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:22 pm

      Yes! I keep sending mine out, too. 

  8. Stacey says

    June 24, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    Such a great idea! My goal is to get to the end of the school year in one piece. We still have a week and a half until my grade schoolers are out. My daughter that has anxiety is getting harder and harder to get out the door in the morning. I am counting down to NOT having to get out the door!

    • Shell says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:22 pm

      We’ve been out for a week and a half. Towards the end, I had the hardest time finding any motivation to get out the door on time! 

  9. Rorybore says

    June 24, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    a very good plan. I do the same thing now: tell them what needs to be done. then I get myself ready….. make a coffee….. and wait. and wait. when they ask the inevitable “when are we leaving?” I say “did you do what I asked you to do? no? well, we will leave when you have done that.” It’s only them that is missing out on the fun stuff if our time has to be cut short because they weren’t responsible. no more running around, and yes Old Yeller for mama! 🙂

    • Shell says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:23 pm

      It’s much easier to do when it’s summer and something they want to be doing. Like the pool. I’m perfectly okay with skipping that some days, so if they don’t do what they’re supposed to, it’s not a loss to me! 

  10. Jennifer says

    June 24, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    This sounds like a most excellent plan. I would like a report at the end of the summer as to its effectiveness. With slides. 😉

    • Shell says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:24 pm

      Slides are a little bit more than my summer slacker attitude can do. 😉 But this plan is working so far. 

  11. Kimberly Murphy says

    June 24, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    What a great idea! I hope it all works out!

  12. Julia says

    June 26, 2014 at 8:48 am

    That is a great idea!! I’m working on something similar I’m trying to get Jack to dress himself. I would make my day so much easier if he could dress himself. 

  13. Anna Hettick says

    June 27, 2014 at 9:29 am

    I definitely need to do this! My kids have actually said they want to start setting their alarms and getting up and dressed on their own but their bodies are so used to me waking them up that it’s difficult for them. I think starting in July we will start seeing how they do and maybe by school in August they will be able to wake up themselves and be more aware of the time.

  14. Angie says

    July 1, 2014 at 6:29 pm

    That is an awesome goal!

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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