How do you get out of the house early enough to go to work?

Lauren - posted on 07/27/2010

I get things set up at night, pick out my clothes, my daughters clothes, pack my lunch, shower, anything I can do so when I get up I can focus on getting her ready and myself out the door on time

Daphne' - posted on 07/16/2010

I love it! Planning makes everything seem easier and much smoother!

Sylvia - posted on 07/15/2010

I work from 8am to 4pm (notionally -- actually I'm often there until at least 4:30pm, sigh). I get up at 6:25, I wake DD up at 6:40 when I get out of the shower, and she and I leave the house at 7:10 to catch the 7:15 bus that goes by her school, where I drop her off and get back on the bus going the other way to get to a second bus which takes me to work (sometimes I walk the rest of the way instead of waiting for that second bus). I'm not sure how it takes us so long to get ready in the morning (shower, brush teeth, dress, pack two lunches, brush DD's hair, make sure she's brushed her teeth and put on clean underpants), but it does. So I can imagine that it must take longer with two kids, even though they're littler. And when I think that when I was younger I used to put on makeup every morning ... yeah, not happening. I'd rather sleep for 5 more minutes, thanks! ;^)

For starters it sounds like your husband needs to do more of the work; if you'll forgive my saying so, unless he needs to be at work *hours* earlier than you do, it's ridiculous that he isn't shouldering more of the morning workload. Also, why do you need to dress your 2.5-year-old? Surely he's old enough to put his clothes on by himself? I know at that age my DD would have been *deeply* offended if I'd suggested that (a) I had any say in what she wore or (b) she needed my help to get dressed ;^).

If your children go to daycare while you work, could they not eat breakfast when they get there instead of before you leave the house? I know if I had to feed everyone breakfast before going to work, we would never get out of here :P -- instead DH and I both pack breakfast as well as lunch for ourselves, and DD eats breakfast at the before-school program when she arrives about 7:30 (when she was younger and in full-time daycare, she ate breakfast there, as I dropped her off just before 8am).

Packing lunches the night before is an excellent idea (though I'm not all that good at it myself :P). For anyone who tends to waffle about what outfit to put on in the morning, picking out clothes the night before and setting them out ready to put on is also good. Basically, anything you can get ready the night before is a help in the morning (if you do need to have everyone eat breakfast at home in the morning, you could set out the cereal box, bowls, spoons, etc. on the table before you go to bed so that in the morning you just have to get out the milk pitcher and pour the cereal and milk into everyone's bowl. Like I said, I'm not that organized, and we don't eat breakfast at home anyway, but I can see how it would save time).

I also found it helpful to come to terms with the fact that as long as DD was nursing, I was sometimes going to have to nurse while doing other things. Such as eating breakfast, and washing dishes, and doing laundry, and shopping. So by the time she was a few months old, breastfeeding wasn't a separate task for me, it was just something that happened from time to time throughout the day, irrespective of whatever else we happened to be doing at the time.

If your 2.5yo likes to play games when it's time to get dressed, maybe he'd be open to playing a new kind of game, like one where you see how fast he can get his clothes on or something like that. Or maybe making sure he gets dressed could be something your hubby takes over, since dads (at least, the ones I know) often seem to enjoy that sort of game. My DH is the king of getting little kids to put on their socks -- he makes the sock talk in a funny voice, or pretends the sock is going to gobble up the toes, or whatever, and before they know it, poof! they've got socks on :D

Varda - posted on 07/15/2010

try working from home or get a job that is in shifts, do what is best for your childrens

E - posted on 07/15/2010

I have an 8 month old and an almost 4 year old. I was afraid of not getting out of the house on time too. It took me a few months to get into a groove, and even now I never know how the morning is going to go. For example, sometimes my oldest is in a mood and refuses to get dressed. Like the other Mom's I plan everything I possibly can ahead of time. I have all of their outfits for the week laid out by Sunday evening. They each have their own drawer/shelf just for that. Don't misunderstand this with me having all of my clean laundry folded and put away! :) I always have at least 2 baskets that are full of clean clothes at all times! :) Anyway, I also try hard to plan my outfits for at least the first three days of each week if I have time. Lunches are also prepped a couple days ahead of time. I also try to get up early to get at least my hair and make up done before I have to wake my oldest up. It may be hectic for you for a few weeks but you'll get the hang of it in no time.

Ashley - posted on 07/15/2010

I commute an hour with my 2 and a half year old to go to work this is what i do. I lay out cloths the night before for both of us lunch is made at night. I wake him up get him dressed breakfast is eatin in the car. As i get him dressed immediately after waking him hes normally half asleep so compiant lol. I would wake baby up first get her all feed and ready then wake your older child. As for your husband ask him to do xxx and tell him thats his job maby he just dosent want to get in your way and dosent no what to do. Good luck

Nicolette Charlene - posted on 07/15/2010

Hi there...

I am a proud mother of a 4 year old, 3 years old and a 3 month old. I am also breast feeding and I started work 3 weeks ago and I must say it was a challenge.

I start work at 8:00 in the morning. Most of my preperations start in the evening..., I lay my 3 childrens clothes out as well as my own. I have all my make up and hair goodies in a line and decide exactly what will need to be done. Bags are also packed in the evenings as well. All children are bathed in the evening too.

I wake up at 5:00am and breastfeed my little one, then she usually falls asleep again, I get myself ready, and at 6:00 I get the two older kiddies organised. I have a star chart for co-operation, so they usually dont fight with me anymore when it comes to getting ready. At the end of the week if the star chart is complete they get a surprise.
After that my baby usually wakes up, I give her one last little feed to keep her going, dress her and all this is done by 7:15 Then kids are dropped at school and Im at the office.

Its takes a lot of self dicipline, but it is possible. Just breath, and do a few practise runs before you start work. You will see its not all that bad.

I seem to manage and I have 3, so give the routine a try sweety.. you might just surprise your self!

let me know if it works for you

Daphne' - posted on 07/15/2010

Plan, plan, plan. The night before I lay out clothes, make/pack lunch, decide whats for dinner and put it in the fridge, I pack bags (mine and her backpack) and put them by the door. I wake up early and get completely ready while she is sleeping then I wake her up get her dressed, we have breakfast then we are out of the door!

Letitia - posted on 07/14/2010

I have a 1 yr old and 6 year old and it's just me. I am not a morning person. I set out their clothes the night before. I do breakfaston the go (waffles usually). I take care of as many things that I can the night before. I haven't perfected getting to work on time but this helps me most of the time.