Keep  movin’, movin’, movin’,

Though they’re disaprovin’,

Keep them dogies movin’, Rawhide!

Don’t try to understand ‘em

Just rope and throw and grab ‘em

Soon we’ll all be living high and wide . . .

(Frankie Laine)

When I think about the process of getting a child to school on time, this song comes to mind. I guess my word association makes me think of herding cattle. My husband said, “It’s more like herding cats.” I hope this post provides some assistance to you in corralling your children.

Before I go on, let’s just pause a moment for the home-schooling parents. Go ahead, be smug and enjoy the moment.

Now, getting down to business. How do you get your kid(s) to school on time? The vast majority of us are dealing with (a) cranky bosses or (d) time clocks. I’d like to show my company’s time clock the business end of a Louisville Slugger – but I digress.

The key to getting your child to school on time, and you to work on time, is that you have to do all of your planning the day before. Let’s examine a typical day for a child.

• School
• After-school activity
• Homework
• Dinner
• Bath
• Reading time
• Sleep!

Monday, 2:20 p.m. There you are, in the parade of parents, picking up your child. Then it’s time to head to the next planned activity (dance lessons, soccer, gymnastics, etc.). When they finally are through, you drive home. Before you start dinner, exercise, or collapse, check the backpack. What is the homework for the next day/week/month? There are likely notes from your child’s teacher. By checking now, if you are supposed to give birth to a dozen cupcakes by tomorrow morning, or assemble Fort Sutter from sugar cubes, you have time to go back out later for supplies. Also, keeping the school’s monthly calendar on your refrigerator will remind you of important dates.

1. What is the homework for that evening? Before you tackle it, I recommend a period of decompression time. They will be hungry, or want to play a little while. What worked for me was to give my daughter a little snack. Then I parked her at a table in the kitchen to do homework while I made dinner. That way, I could still help, but not be hovering. When it is done, the homework should go right back into the backpack.

2. Pick out the outfit. This doesn’t matter if we are talking about boys or girls. They all have preferences. I recommend laying it all out, down to the shoes and socks. For older girls, if they want to attempt a trickier hairstyle, make a rule about practicing first – and then allowing more time in the morning. There is nothing like a premenstrual teenager with bad hair to really spice up your day.

3. Bath or shower. This is part of their time to unwind and relax.

4. Make lunches. Yes, that’s right, the night before. Do not save this chore for the morning! You will be groggy and uninspired in the morning. Get it done beforehand. Also, if your child has an after-school activity, pack an extra juice and granola bar or healthy snack.

5. Reading. I recommend reading to your child, or with your child, before bed. I liked taking turns reading chapters. We did this into high school. I won’t belabor the benefits of reading with your child.

6. In the morning, if they are exhausted, you need to move that bedtime up earlier. If they are exhausted because they are over-scheduled, you should examine what is really important. To wake up, my daughter needed a glass of juice, or some hot chocolate, to begin functioning. Then we could proceed to breakfast. Some kids just can’t stomach breakfast right way. For these kids, pack a breakfast sandwich, or a yogurt, or blend a smoothie. Let them eat in the car, or when they get to school. Keep wipes on hand.

This advice is tried and true. I’d like to it came from calm, mature parenting – but truth be told, there was a fair amount of screaming and swearing involved. Best of luck rounding them up!