One of my favorite tasks as a new stepfather is getting kids up for school in the morning. In the first six months of my marriage, I didn't get a chance to do that. Following the advice of my friend, I simply watched and learned. Last year, I began getting the kids up and getting them ready for school. What an adventure!
Riley isn't too hard to get up. Usually, one or two times telling him to get up is sufficient. The challenge with him always is finding socks! He never seems to have enough. It's like the sock monster that lives in the dryer (You know, the one that eats one sock out of each pair) has taken up permanent residence in his room. Once he gets going though, he is a huge help in helping me get his sister pointed in the right direction.
That brings me to the real challenge on school mornings, Elizabeth (known to all of us as Ellie). I don't care how much sleep she gets at night, she always seems like she could use an extra hour or two. She's one of those people who literally could sleep all day. Needless to say, she's the hard one to get up. Usually, it takes me two or three trips to her room, followed by threats of cold water in the ear to get her going.
I've also learned that, like her brother, Ellie has a wicked sense of humor. I can't tell you how many times last year Ellie got up, got dressed, then got back in bed and pretended to be asleep. Or she would get up, hide behind the door and jump out at me, scaring me out of a year of my life! Once she's up, though, she's the ball of sunshine that I've grown to love so much
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