Chaos? Mayhem and madness? Total disorganisation?

None, and all, of the above. 

Monday morning, every monday morning, getting the kids to school on time.

Waking up and actually getting out of bed, especially on those cooler, crisper mornings, is the first challenge. Probably for most of us, but for teenagers, an especially difficult task.

Bed is just too cosy. 

Slowly leaving that warm space is eventually followed by a shower, or at least a wash, and breakfast.

Sometimes, getting a child to eat breakfast is hard enough, let alone in a given time period.

As the time poor adult attempting to get kids to school, being a witness to this is even worse. 

Oh, the agony of watching, as one mouthful takes five minutes to chew. All time consuming, and that clock just keeps on ticking away to the start of the school day. Then:

“Where are my shoes?”

“I can’t find my library bag”

“My hat’s not in my bag”.

Of course, these are not the only hindrances.

The doing of hair and the cleaning of teeth are also necessary, but immensely time consuming on monday morning. And come a poor second best to other, more fun things.

Time doesn’t stand still, but the lure of the television set, or the PlayStation, or the odd ball in the living room, is all powerful.

Eventually, after everything is found, breakfast partially eaten, television and PlayStation turned off, ball thrown into the backyard, and hair & teeth attended to, it’s into the car .

Between home and school it’s only minutes, but being boys in the backseat, there can, and usually are, minor scuffles. A punch here, a pinch there. 

Nothing major, just irritating. And especially when the road is full of cars and buses, and parking spaces are in short supply, and the music on the radio can’t be heard because of the shrieks and giggles.

Finally, the car is parked, the kids are walking into the school gate, and their friends run up, to say hi and to chatter and laugh together.

Ah, the monday morning school drop off! 

Rush hour is over.

Until tomorrow.

Then it’s Tuesdays turn.