Planned Ahead to Get Out of the House

Play it Again, Mama!

Today on Works for Me Wednesday, Kristy, from We Are That Family, challenged us to post our best tip. So I'm putting this post from my archives (originally posted on 8/20/08) and posting it again for all you out there. These are some of my best tips for getting out the door with two little ones in tow. Hope it's of encouragement for those of us with littles.

Getting out the door...
Baby #2 has been a real learning curve for me. So I'm always doing everything I can to help us get out the door in better shape than we did the day before. These are just a few of the tips I'm working on incorporating into our lives...

1. Keep a stocked diaper bag in the car- I keep a stocked diaper bag in the trunk of our car. It has an extra change of clothes for both of the kids, extra underwear for Big Boy, diapers and wipes for Baby Girl, bibs, and baby spoons to name a few. This keeps me from having to tote around a change of clothes for the kids all the time. And I'm still prepared in case of accidents. Just don't forget to restock and check clothing sizes.

2. Make all sack lunches and snacks the night before- This can be a pain when I just want to sit in front of the TV the night before. But then I remember how nice it is the next morning. No running around looking for good snacks for the park or being frustrated over an unopened jelly jar for sandwiches. This tip alone saves me 10-15 minutes in the morning.

3. Playing music while getting ready- Planning music in the morning helps our house run so much smoother. Big Boy is getting to the age where he can help by dressing himself. But he's in a much better mood, and therefore I am too, when we play worship or classic music. The same goes for fun kids' music as long as it's not too crazy.

4. Keeping my keys on the key hook in the kitchen or by the door- When my keys are in a designated spot, we get out of the house anywhere from 5-10 minutes faster. Although it's easier to toss them somewhere, anywhere, as I'm stumpling in the door, I am always more thankful that I put them away when it's time to head out again.

5. If all else fails, try again tomorrow- Some errands I realize don't need to be done till tomorrow. And on those mornings where all else fails, we plop down and come up with Plan B. Sometimes we just don't get out the door as planned. We shrug our shoulders and try again next time.

That's what Works for Me. How about you?