tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post6319617736746058345..comments2008-07-10T09:29:40.247-04:00Dadnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-65813132114176234642008-07-09T16:12:00.000-04:002008-07-09T16:12:00.000-04:002008-07-09T16:12:00.000-04:00Just found your post today and will be checking back in--fun reading and great pix! <BR/><BR/>My sister has developed a series of strategies to help with her kids--5 and 8--though they haven't found a way around the yelling part yet. I think that's just intrinsic to the whole process . . .like breathing.<BR/><BR/>Pantry door--where the kids pick out their breakfast cereal--has a home-made printed list of visual reminders (clip art) for both leaving the house AND daily chores for each kid. She uses clothes pins or other clips to mark the page so the 5 yr old will take note of what she needs to do. . . and then the 5 yr old very sneakily removes them and hides them in the silverware drawer to indicate that she has done them. Of course she hasn't, though, just because such menial tasks are beneath her (our drama queen/fairy princess). Yelling ensues.<BR/><BR/>(sigh) <BR/><BR/>Okay, it works for the 8 year old . . .Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06462573861414488660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-72021230903048638182008-04-26T14:51:00.000-04:002008-04-26T14:51:00.000-04:002008-04-26T14:51:00.000-04:00So your wife is saying that she has BETTER things to do than to spend hours setting timers and bells around the house in the morning? I find that hard to believe. ;) And as if the various ringing and whistling of bells in the morning doesn't sound like a lovely way to start the day. . .in addition to the yelling and nagging.Mikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711175903115498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-52988538090147675702008-04-26T03:19:00.000-04:002008-04-26T03:19:00.000-04:002008-04-26T03:19:00.000-04:00Ha ha ha ha. Love it!<BR/>And while I'm sure that stuff *can* work for a few weeks, it wears off.Alison Wonderlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15764321314666554990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-71815589242767625032008-04-24T16:48:00.000-04:002008-04-24T16:48:00.000-04:002008-04-24T16:48:00.000-04:00So, I've been blogging for a while now, but its just been recently that I've taken to reading other people's stuff. Yours was the first blog I read, and I was immediately taken with it. My parents split up a year ago, but even before that... things were never like my television says they should be. Your blog is comforting to me, because it shows a Dad's veiw, and that somewhere out in the world, a Dad is happy with his family. Its weird, cause I dont know you at all... but I do enjoy reading your blog, and I've been praying for your family since the first post I read. <BR/><BR/>:]Dont Call Me Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037494134681968454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-73409683684688026582008-04-24T13:14:00.000-04:002008-04-24T13:14:00.000-04:002008-04-24T13:14:00.000-04:00Editor's Note #2, to Heather:<BR/><BR/>Bless you.Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194433067633578753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-40755764635034706182008-04-24T13:12:00.000-04:002008-04-24T13:12:00.000-04:002008-04-24T13:12:00.000-04:00We have the same issues in our house, only at bedtime instead of the morning. I am out of the house before 5:00 AM and the boys don't go to school until 9:00, but they are old enough to get themselves up, etc. It's the nighttime when I am trying to get to bed by 8:00 (yeah, right)in order to get up at 4:00. The lists of chores, timers for dinner, etc., tried 'em all and they just don't work if the kids aren't in the mood. Lots of yelling and craziness ensues!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16719444772965117232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-62055026314101305252008-04-24T13:02:00.000-04:002008-04-24T13:02:00.000-04:002008-04-24T13:02:00.000-04:00Editors Note: I was sort of kidding around with this. If there's one character trait I am proud of, in addition to "obliviousness at home," it's my ability to spot potential blog-worth comedic devices a mile away. This post falls into that category, and I certainly didn't mean to suggest that these strategies don't have value, or merit, or the potential to aid in leading parents everywhere through the sometimes hellish darkness otherwise known as the morning routine.Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194433067633578753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-59659980740909564602008-04-24T12:31:00.000-04:002008-04-24T12:31:00.000-04:002008-04-24T12:31:00.000-04:00These things work. They seriously do. (If the child can't read you make a chart with pictures - they can do more than you THINK they can - truly) But you have to be willing to stop doing things the old way in order to give them a try. Hey - you tried, right? ;)DaisyBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03018568031615675530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-54392534377326339582008-04-24T01:15:00.000-04:002008-04-24T01:15:00.000-04:002008-04-24T01:15:00.000-04:00Check, Check (only two) for us. We set a timer for breakfast time, only because my 2 and 4 year old children could spend 2 hours eating breakfast AND they do on the days I don't work (5 of 7). And I ALWAYS put backpacks, planners, papers to return to school, checks for the babysitter, purses, cellphones, etc. by the door the night before(and nope, we don't have a mudroom. I have one additional tip: put out clothes the night before (this is easy for me because my little girl goes to private school - not much to choose from and my little boy is 2 so he doesn't really care what he wears)! o YA! I still raise my voice at crunch time, but otherwise pretty calm around here in the mornings!:)Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00838997136573083008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-11376295718811891622008-04-23T16:26:00.000-04:002008-04-23T16:26:00.000-04:002008-04-23T16:26:00.000-04:00Mornings in my house consist of me sneaking out the door without waking anyone else up, but this was a fun read.<BR/><BR/>Just wanted to say that I found this blog under the "blogs of note" and I thoroughly enjoy it! Thanks for giving me something to look forward to.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06972093977468313631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-56585209919630756152008-04-23T14:32:00.000-04:002008-04-23T14:32:00.000-04:002008-04-23T14:32:00.000-04:00just ask my hubby and two children (4 adn 8) what mornings are like at my house. <BR/><BR/>I am so NOT a morning person...my first words of the day are usually R-rated (read: #%$&@!!) or something like it. I think it is my right to waken to roses and sunshine and not the sound of plastic hitting the tile floor, or milk sloshing off the table. Right?<BR/><BR/>www.swirlgirlspearls.blogspot.comSwirl Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241915723936809627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-84650278626611366072008-04-23T14:28:00.000-04:002008-04-23T14:28:00.000-04:002008-04-23T14:28:00.000-04:00I love Gwen. Sounds like me. The voice of reason knocking down the well meaning but insane ramblings of the husband.Daisywww.daisywhitney.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-14398996384649936162008-04-23T12:17:00.000-04:002008-04-23T12:17:00.000-04:002008-04-23T12:17:00.000-04:00Haha. Sounds like our house, with the screaming and the fighting and the being behind.<BR/>Those are times we'll never be able to forget. ;]<BR/><BR/>---Sarah<BR/>lifeastoldbysarah.blogspot.comSarah :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14551279015523499763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-28282593608454673892008-04-23T11:28:00.000-04:002008-04-23T11:28:00.000-04:002008-04-23T11:28:00.000-04:00Too funny!! I am not there yet with just a 5 year old to get ready and a baby. We have used a timer at the dinner table because he plays so much...works pretty good. Enjoy reading your blog...thought I would leave a comment.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607442791837078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-32807323049367172052008-04-23T00:11:00.001-04:002008-04-23T00:11:00.001-04:002008-04-23T00:11:00.001-04:00i dont think the writer of that article knows what she is talking about. these 'hacks' won't work unless we are some Von Trapp kind of family. no home works that way, not kids and certainly not adults! besides, the yelling, the desperate searching for my comb, trying to feed the baby, and watching something burn on the stove makes me feel like I've started the day right. if everything becomes methodical, i tend to forget something really important like getting my keys or putting a diaper on the baby!Jane Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527141421451859092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-81756325370770296682008-04-23T00:11:00.000-04:002008-04-23T00:11:00.000-04:002008-04-23T00:11:00.000-04:00OK, we do all that stuff around here - place for all the crap, little lists of things to do, timed 'everything' - eating, showering, hair, backpacks - and there is still plenty of yelling. One thing though - I do apologize in the car on the way to school - at least it makes ME feel better for the rest of the day!!Ginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441789003856558442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27902277.post-19318283076191430742008-04-22T22:29:00.000-04:002008-04-22T22:29:00.000-04:002008-04-22T22:29:00.000-04:00I second that motion....I am the queen of scream in the mornings. I wish I could erase them from my day.Vanessa Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04234000613897008022noreply@blogger.com