Parent to Parent: Morning mayhem

The day starts quietly at the Lehrich house, but with three children and a dog to manage, it doesn't stay that way for long.

Mayim and Talya dress and primp. While mom Debbie tends to Maxwell, 1, the clock is ticking to get downstairs for breakfast and homework, where dad Tom is whipping up lunches.

Debbie Lehrich, mom
"There's always something else that has to be done, like a permission slip to be signed, or a check that needs to be written, an envelope that it has to go in and an address that I need to check."

Patti Cancellier, parenting expert
"Parents need to exude confidence in their children."

Educator Patti Cancellier teaches classes for parents learning to deal with morning mayhem. She urges them to plan ahead, tackling homework, laying out clothes and prepping lunches the night before.

Debbie Lehrich, mom
"It almost never happens, but then the morning goes very smoothly, and there's all sorts of room for things to go wrong."

Tip two: give children responsibility, things like setting their own alarm or making lunches.

Patti Cancellier, parenting expert
"You work side by side for awhile, and when you see that your child can pretty much make their way through a lunch without a lot of questions then you say, 'You know what? It looks like you're ready to take this on by yourself.'"

Debbie Lehrich, mom
"It's a great idea. Getting kids involved in the kitchen is great, so they understand nutrition."

Finally, let children suffer the consequences when they don't get ready on time.

Patti Cancellier, parenting expert
"The consequence would be they're gonna be late. You want to make sure that you don't write a note excusing them, because that's rescuing them from the consequences of their behavior."

And children will follow your lead.

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