Chaos? Mayhem and madness? Total disorganisation?

All of the above.

Because it’s Monday morning, Getting two young boys to school on time. Challenging.

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, comforting space is eventually, casually followed by a shower 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 tardiness is grating.

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 brushing of hair and the cleaning of teeth are also necessary, but immensely time consuming on Monday morning.

Time doesn’t stand still, but the magical 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 for the driver. 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 yelps.

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.

Rush hour is over.

Until tomorrow.

Then it’s Tuesday’s turn.