Submitted by Amy, Tampa  FL

Mornings are the hardest time in our house. How can make getting out the door go more smoothly?

Answered by Jacque Grillo , Director, Lone Mountain Children's Center

This is a common complaint from parents. A counter complaint from the children is that mornings are just too rushed and hurried, with too little time for fun and being together. A simple solution is to set aside a five or ten minute period each morning for being together in a calm and relaxed way, either before or after all the necessary preparations for the day. Everyone agrees to try this new system, and in exchange for setting aside the five or ten minutes, everyone agrees to be more cooperative and participatory during the morning get-it-together routine.