The Morning Hustle: Balancing the Back-to-School Routine Without Losing Your Socks (Literally)

 

The Morning Hustle: Balancing the Back-to-School Routine Without Losing Your Socks (Literally)

Mornings in our house are a bit like a game of Jenga. One wrong move, and the whole thing topples—sometimes with a flurry of cereal, missing shoes, and someone crying over the “wrong” banana (yes, again).

For families with neurodivergent kids—or just multiple small humans with strong opinions—getting out the door on time is less of a routine and more of a delicate dance of timing, patience, and caffeine.

The Goldilocks Dilemma: Not Too Fast, Not Too Slow

My eldest daughter, who is on the spectrum, has a very specific sweet spot when it comes to timing.

If we’re running late? Total meltdown mode.

If we’re ahead of schedule? Suddenly, shoes are off, clothes are optional, and she’s halfway into a new sensory activity that definitely can’t be paused.

The trick is to hit that “just right” window—and no, there’s no app for that (yet).

Juggling Act: One Mum, Four Kids, and a Puppy

Meanwhile, I’m trying to help my second daughter, who’s showing all the signs of ADHD, while wrangling two younger boys and making sure the puppy hasn’t turned a school shoe into a chew toy. It's like a game show where the prize is “Everyone Gets to School Dressed and on Time” and the obstacles include missing lunchboxes, last-minute costume days, and toddlers who suddenly “don’t like pants.”

Fun vs. Routine: Can You Have Both?

Here’s the magic formula I try (emphasis on try) to stick to:

1. Visual Schedules Are Everything

We use picture-based routines so everyone knows what comes next. It reduces anxiety, gives them independence, and limits the number of times I have to say, “Put your shoes back on.”

2. Timers Help Keep the Pace

Whether it’s a visual countdown or a fun song playlist, setting time boundaries keeps us moving—without me feeling like the morning drill sergeant.

3. Prepping the Night Before Saves Sanity

Clothes laid out, bags packed, lunches prepped—even if it only buys you 10 minutes in the morning, it’s 10 minutes you won’t spend peeling a banana and a child off the floor.

4. A Dash of Humor and Flexibility

Some mornings are smooth. Some mornings involve a full costume change because someone decided it was opposite day. If we can laugh about it (after a deep breath and maybe a cry in the pantry), we’re winning.

Final Thought: You’re Doing Amazing

If your mornings feel chaotic, exhausting, and unpredictable—you’re not alone. This isn’t just a “get ready for school” routine, it’s a whole family coordination mission filled with unique needs, big emotions, and small victories.

Whether you're just managing to make it to the school gate or high-fiving yourself because no one lost their socks (yet), know this: you're showing up, you're trying, and you're doing an incredible job.

Hang in there, superstar. And maybe pack an extra coffee for drop-off—you’ve earned it.