Back-to-School & A Giveaway

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.

One of the hardest things about bidding farewell to summer is the necessity of fitting life into a succinct schedule. Gone are the mornings of eating breakfast in pajamas, showering late in the day, and lingering at the breakfast table to chat. Rather, the morning routine is compressed into one short hour before leaping into the car, Dukes of Hazards-style (well, almost), and rolling off out of the garage on time. Last year, we always seemed to be in a rush and tempers flared as the minutes ticked by. I am determined to change that this year.

The last thing my kids need is a mum and dad yelling at them to "Hurry up!" as they prepare for a day at school. To avoid the inevitable rush, I now attempt to have as many of the morning to-do items checked off the night before. Here are some tips that make our morning routine go smoothly (relatively-speaking):

1) Each night, I make sandwiches for the boys, wrap up some carrot sticks and a snack, and place them in the fridge - one pile for each boy. Lunch bags are placed on the counter so that we just have to place the lunches inside in the morning before the bags are tucked away in backpacks.

2) The boys are responsible for placing completed homework in their backpacks, along with anything else they would like to take (e.g., soccer or football).

3) The breakfast table is set with place mats, napkins, bowls, and utensils.

4) On the kitchen counter, we lay out the breakfast choices which are usually a whole wheat bagel, whole wheat muffins, or cereal. My husband and I typically eat Kellogg's Raisin Bran or Smart Start, while our eldest son chooses Rice Krispies. All that is left to do in the morning is pour the cereal, chop some fresh fruit, and pour the milk. We are adamant about eating a good breakfast each morning to insure a healthy start to the day. From research, we know that children that skip breakfast miss out on more than one-third of the day's recommended vitamins and minerals.

5) Each morning, the boys hope for a few minutes of playtime before heading off to school. They know, however, that there are certain things that they must complete in time for that happen - get dressed, brush hair and teeth, and put on shoes. The promise of playtime is a very effective motivator for completing these tasks.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What are your tips for making your mornings go smoothly?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for 24 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 9/14 - 9/20/2010.

For more information on Kellogg's, head to www.loveyourcereal.com.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit www.loveyourcereal.com.