My kids have no sense of urgency. All the books I read about kids and toddlers talked about smooth transitions and routine. I worked very hard to do both of these so we would have less tantrums. So now when I say things like, “Hurry up, we’re going to be late!” They say ‘okay’, but it’s obvious they don’t really get it. Here is a great example of a typical school morning in our house.
Me: “Natalie, put your shoes and coat on. We’re going to be late for school.”
Natalie: “Okay, mom.”
Me: “Natalie, why aren’t your shoes on? Hurry, sweetie. You have to get to school.”
Natalie: “I know, mom. Look at my Barbie. I put her princess dress on her. Have you seen her puppy?”
Me: “Natalie, it’s not time to be playing with Barbies. GET YOUR SHOES ON!”
No urgency. None. Zip. Which only stresses me more because now I have to take on the urgency for everyone involved. It is especially crazy when I have to lug Ryan along for the drop off on mornings when Henry has to leave early. But, wow, what a great feeling it is to come down the school hill stress-free and breathing easily after finally dropping Natalie off.
I can’t help but smile as I watch a navy blue minivan careen into the school driveway practically up on two wheels, the mom with a terse look on her face, knowing that is just what I looked like two minutes ago.
Now hurry up, get off the computer, you’re going to be late!
Comments (10)
My kids are the same way- it drives me crazy!
Lol!!!Yep that sure does sound like our mornings.
Bawhahah, that is my house every single school morning, not only do I have to get the 7yr, 3yr, 10 mo out the door, but my nehigbors youngs kids too, I can’t even keep count of all the time’s I hollar out LET’S GO! Did I mention I have to go to 2 differnt schools… ahhh life during the school year.
Our house is the same way when getting ready to go somewhere! I almost always end up having to apologize for losing my temper while trying to get them to hurry up. I’ve decided to attempt using a little timer and give them a few minutes to do each thing before it goes off…altho I haven’t really figured out yet what to do if it doesn’t work! 🙂 Glad to know I’m not the only one who struggles with this.
Tyra
Our rule was no toys, no playing, no FUN until your child is ready for school. So, dress, food, teeth brushed, bag ready everything, before playing.
We also got everything ready the night before – made lunches, packed book bags, chose outfits including coats, socks, underwear, hair bow – everything – no changes in the morning.
I have also gotten in the car with child in pajamas – who miraculously dressed in 30 seconds between getting out of the carseat/seatbelt and walking in the door to school. Hungry all morning. Great improvement followed.
Story of my life. I am that minivan you talked about in our school parking lot.
That’s hilarious because I really am going to be late! I just had to finish up reading your blog! My kids are both the same way! I think they do it just because they love to see me stressed out! They are getting a little tiny bit better lately though! I told them I was going to wake them up an hour earlier if we kept having to rush so much! They decided they did not want to get up that early!
We are all about time limits to impose urgency.
Had to laugh at your post this morning! Those are words that have come out of every mothers mouth in the world surely? I have 4 children (identical twin boys of 12 another boy aged 10,5 and a girlie of 3) so I can definately relate to the “hurry up syndrome”! It does get better as they get older. When they were younger we used a timer – sometimes I would set the timer (one for each child) for each task and they had to get done before the bell went off. If they did they got a sticker on a chart. (No punishment for not managing to get it done – this is not discipline, but encouragement) Other days I gave them a preprinted “checklist” of things to get done and then had a race between them to see who could complete all the items on their list first. Winner got a sticker on the chart (if he had done each task properly – if the laces arn’t tied the shoes are not on properly etc). At the end of the week the one with the most stickers got a small treat. I found the only way to get them moving was to take the urgency/stress out of it and replace it with fun. Oh and I used to build in “extra” time into all my planning – if you HAVE to leave for school at 7.15 aim to leave at 7 05. Those extra 10 mins make all the difference! I am still chuckling! Thanks for starting the day off with a smile! Love Lynda (South Africa)
I like what Lynda from So Africa said. Good advice to all of us. I would like to comment that the encouragement we give our children is and should be a major part of our discipline. Punishment is also a part of our discipline and, although sometimes necessary, should be reserved for intentional disobedience and not for behaviors common to children.
From my experience working with my own seven kids and in childrens ministries, kids don’t seem to have the words “hurry up” in their functioning vocabulary. They live too much (thank God) in the moment unlike us adults whose minds are often anywhere but in the moment (too bad). “I’ll beat ya to the car” seemed to work better for me. As a side note, Leighann, you often won being the self-disciplined individual you are since birth. Mom