My daughter, S and N never seem to get used to our morning routine. It’s never drama free, but we manage to get out of the door on time every morning. Here’s a typical morning at the DadUnmasked lair.
5:15 am: The alarm clock clock goes off. After slapping the snooze button 3 or 4 times, I turn over to see that once again, S and N have infiltrated my bed in the middle of the night. Nothing new there. I grab my robe and head to the kitchen to start the coffee. While the coffee is brewing, I stumble around trying to figure out what day it is. I almost always have to check the calendar. I know, I’m getting old.
After grabbing that first cup of joe, I wander the house looking for my glasses and eye phone. I also start up the laptop to check cnn, twitter, facebook, emails, etc., By now, the dog is ready to be let out. I grab a second cup of coffee and try to slip in any work I might have on the side.
6:30 am: The girls are still asleep while I shower and shave.
6:55 am: I grab my third cup of coffee and check Twitter again.
7:00 am: The fun begins. The girls whine and moan non stop. “I don’t want to get up!” “I’m tired!” “Leave me alone!”
7:10 am: After several warnings, the girls are up, grumbling and moaning, while brushing their teeth.
7:15 am: The girls are wide awake and are ready to get dressed. S, who is 7, carefully picks out her outfit being sure everything matches.
7:20 am: I attempt to help N, who is 4, pick out an outfit for school. The response is always, “Daddy, I can dress myself!” Not wanting any more drama, I leave the room.
7:30 am: I prepare S’s lunch and get them breakfast. I check Twitter again.
7:35 am: N runs out of her room. She always says, “Look Daddy! I dressed myself! Do I look pretty?” My response, “Of course sweetie, you are ALWAYS pretty to me.”
January 7th, 2010 on 2:19 pm
Adorable! And our house is similar with 2 boys – ages 3 and 9. . .although I do not get up nearly early enough and have NO time to check anything before we rush out! LOL
Hillary
January 7th, 2010 on 2:56 pm
What an awesome outfit! I wouldn’t be so thrilled with it if one of mine had decided to wear it for the day. What a look & not many more years of being this free with her fashion choices. I love it.
January 7th, 2010 on 3:03 pm
Hey! That’s the same outfit I wore to work today.
Here’s the approach that works for me: School starts @ 8:50, but if I get them there before 8:45, they can eat breakfast at school. One task checked off. I NEVER pack their lunch. The stuff they serve at the cafeterias is far better than the shit we used to eat, right? What’s the big deal about school lunches anyway?
Knowing I have to leave the house @ 8:20 to get them to school by 8:30 (what happened to the freakin’ buses that used to pick us up when we were kids?), I wake them @ 8:00. Sometimes 8:09 if I’m really not ready to deal. That gives me 11-20 minutes to scream at the top of my lungs: “Hurry up! We’re gonna be late! You’re not going to get breakfast! How long does it take to find a pair of socks! You’re not really going to wear the same underwear today, are you?! No, I don’t know where your homework is, and if you don’t know where it is, that’s your problem. Just be prepared for the natural consequences, like being held back! Come on! Get in the car! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!”
We nearly always arrive on time. I barely stop, open the van sliders and kick ‘em to the curb. “Bye Sweets! Got everything?! Have a good day at school! Love y…” Van sliders close on me mid sentence.
So what if my 7 YO’s shirt is on inside out?
Not sure that approach would work for girls.
January 7th, 2010 on 3:09 pm
I LOVE IT!!! As a teacher, that is the highlight of my day. And trust me, it’s one of the only years she can be herself with NO ONE judging her!!
I’m proud of you.
January 7th, 2010 on 3:18 pm
Adorable. I can’t wait for the mighty midget to be able to dress herself.
January 7th, 2010 on 9:06 pm
Well, she is right… she can dress herself. She just might need a hand with her fashion sense
January 8th, 2010 on 6:20 am
My daughter would probably put on a care bear costume..
January 8th, 2010 on 7:08 am
That’s quite the fashionista you’ve got on your hands. I guess its a style thing, as guys I think we just wouldn’t understand.
January 8th, 2010 on 9:11 am
Great outfit. She is a trend setter. I would need more than coffe to do your daily routine. I don’t look forward to the days when my son goes to schoo.
January 8th, 2010 on 10:21 am
now THAT is cute even if it doesn’t match.
January 20th, 2010 on 6:46 pm
holy cow, what a cutie-pie.
i don’t know how you pull off getting two girls ready by yourself. severe props from me to you, my friend.
January 21st, 2010 on 9:52 am
You are so blessed to be able to experience this every day.
January 22nd, 2010 on 10:52 am
Your daughter is a fashion trendsetter. Tyra Banks should watch her back.
January 26th, 2010 on 3:38 pm
She’s adorable! You can see she has an ecclectic fashion sense and a very independant streak tht will serve her well! Of course, having a great Daddy is a PLUS LOL
January 31st, 2010 on 6:14 pm
That is just too cute! Now when she gets 10 like one of mine I start wondering if she will ever get that sense of style. The nice thing is I don’t have to send her back to change because her older sister will not let her leave the house looking like the hot mess she usually is. Her idea of “Natural” and my idea of “Just rolled out of bed” are quite similar!