"Bad habits are easy to form but hard to live with. Good habits are hard to form but easy to live with."

I am a busy mom of 3 kids. Each morning is a struggle to get my kids ready for school. I will be sharing some tips based on experience - other busy and stressed out moms can try these tips to make "Morning Madness" in their household more controllable.

Preventing the morning madness is upsetting isn't it? Having to get all those things prepared, trying not to forget anything, not to point out squabbling kids, tantrums about what to wear or the sleepy head who doesn't want to wake up. No, the morning madness isn't any fun but fortunately there are a few things you can do to get calmness back into your family's morning schedule.

Prepare in advance - Sounds easy enough but did you realize you could absolutely leave just about all things prepared for the following day? It could take a few extra minutes out of your evening but you'll be much faster if you organize everything once the kids are asleep rather than rushing in the morning.

Lay out the kids clothes for the following day - Include necessities like hair clips, socks and shoes. And don't forget to lay out your clothes too.

Make sure breakfast ready (or nearly ready) - Depending on what you have for breakfast you can often pre-arrange a lot of it. If you have pancakes make the batter the night before and stick it in the fridge. If you have cereal and toast, put the cereal out, bowls, spoons and bread. You can even set the table to save time.

Pre-Pack Lunch Boxes - If your kids bring a packed lunch to school arrange it the night before. Most things like sandwiches will be fine left in the fridge overnight.

Pack Their School Bags - Go through their bags and make sure there aren't any last minute dates or events you've overlooked. Pack all their books and things in their bags and leave everything by the front door.

Get The Kids Involved - The obligation of getting the kids to school shouldn't entirely lie on your shoulders. As soon as kids are old enough to lend a hand out then they should. Even the youngest of kids can help.

Create a Chart - If your kids (like most kids) are forgetful, create a chart for each one which explains in order all the things they need to do in the morning. You can draw pictures for the really young ones and scribble a description for the older ones. For example, you can have a picture of a toothbrush, then the school clothes, hair brush, etc.

Talk to your kids about the list beforehand and clarify it to them. Then stick it up in a conspicuous place in their rooms and the next time they ask you "mom, what do I do know?" Remind them to go look at their list. This is a good way of getting kids a little more involved and to start teaching them responsibility.

By preparing in advance you can't escape all of your family's morning stresses but it will definitely help a lot, and who knows you may even have time for that extra cup of coffee. We have come to the end of my informational article. It's now your job to take this information and do something with it. Good luck and thanks for visiting.