Words that move people

It's early November. Mornings are dark and chilly, which doesn't exactly make people in my house (me included) want to jump right out of bed when the alarm goes off.

There are, however, some words that have been proven to act as eject buttons, jettisoning people right out from under the covers and onto their feet. They include:

1. Pancakes/donuts/pizza for breakfast.
2. There's basketball practice tonight. 
3. I DVR'd (insert coveted show); you can watch it after you're dressed and ready.
4. I bought marshmallows for the hot chocolate.
5. Did you finish that homework?
6. If you're not up in 2 minutes, you don't go to basketball practice tonight.
7. I brought you a Diet Coke with ice. 
8. I hear the garbage truck -- is the trash out? 
9. It's dress-down day today.
10. There's no school today. 

Adding this bonus -- "Oh crap! The alarm didn't go off!"

What gets you and your family moving in the mornings?

Points for creativity

Waking Charlie up on school mornings is not fun. What starts out as a sweet "Good morning, time to get up" quickly dissolves into begging and pleading and then finally demanding that he get out of bed.

"You're not sick."

"I'm sorry school ruins all your fun."

"No, I can't stay home with you today. I have to go to my job -- and your job is to go to school."

This morning I decided to try a different tactic. Charlie is my uber-competitive kid, so I thought playing to his loves-to-win side might get him moving a little faster.

"Charlie, it's 6:00am. It's a race! Hurry, see if you can get up and get dressed faster than Dad."

To which Charlie replied:

"Sorry Mom. I forfeit."

Gotta give the kid points for creativity.