When my kids were little, I'd wake up very early and gently wake them for school. I'd rouse them from their slumber with a hot breakfast. Eggs, homemade pancakes, bacon, sausage..all of that delicious food usually saved for the weekends. I'd pack their lunches as they sleepily pulled on their clothes that I had lovingly laid out the night before. We'd talk about what they had going on that day over orange juice and cartoons. Then I'd get them on their way, backpacks on their backs, full of homework I'd help them complete the night before during snack time. I'd drive them to the front door of the elementary school and wave good bye with many "I love yous and have a great day."
Jump ahead several years and both of my kids are in middle school. The girl dresses for school the night before so she doesn't have to "be cold getting dressed in the morning". She wakes at 5:45 to do her hair AND makeup. Yep. MAKEUP. The boy wakes at 6 because when he woke at 6:30 it didn't work for him to take the dog out AND eat breakfast. Breakfast consists of frozen waffles or a piece of toast. And when I finally wake up at 7, I yell at them to make sure they eat a piece of fruit and take their vitamins. Then we rush out the door at 7:20 to do the carpool. The girl usually forgets to pack her lunch until the very last minute, and forgets or misplaces her phone so we all run back into the house to help her locate it. But I drive them to the front door of the middle school and I get "love you mom! Have a good day" from them.
What was my point you ask? When my kids got to middle school I figured it was time for them to do things on their own. And that my friends, has worked out AMAZING for me! I get to sleep! Winner!!!! And apparently they still love me and don't ask why I don't do anything for them in the mornings anymore.
