Parent to Parent: Morning Rush

WSVN -- Morning madness, all of us parents have been there, done that, like the Kretzschmar family.

Suzanne Kretzschmar: "My greatest challenge is staying calm and not start screaming, 'Come on, we gotta go, we gotta go,' and get them excited because everything falls apart."

Eight-year-old Alexandra and 6-year-old Loren are up and ready first. Four-year old Logan goes to a different school a little later. Every morning they have about 40 minutes to get it all together.

Alexandra Kretzschmar: "Sometimes we forget to brush our teeth, and we sometimes skip breakfast."

Dr. Val says with a little planning everything can get done on time, but you have to start the night before with homework.

Dr. Valarie Goode: "It's so important to do it the minute you walk in at night. Just get everything ready, then you can relax for the evening as well."

Once homework is done, parents should make sure to sign any school forms that have come home, and then repack back packs, so they're ready for the morning.

Next, make lunches and pick out clothes for the next day.

Dr. Valarie Goode: "If you can arrange all these things beforehand, don't leave anything up for grabs, you'll have a much calmer year."

The Kretzshmar's have had their share of crazy mornings, but now they've got the routine down and even came up with a way to solve a big nightmare: finding shoes. Now all shoes go into the shoe basket.

Suzanne Kretzschmar: "That was a huge thing because, with three kids, they can always find one, but they can never find the other one. It sounds silly, but it really does, they know where to go. They don't have to ask me, so it's very helpful."

A little effort the night before, and a.m. mayhem is no more.

Dr. Valarie Goode: "It takes a lot of planning, but after awhile it becomes automatic and fairly easy."

One last tip, if your kids just can't get up and get dressed in the morning, some parents actually let them sleep in clean school clothes for the next day to save time.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. Valerie Goode
http://www.drvaleriegoode.com/