When my son finally started school around the age of four, I felt as though I'd been promoted to the new position of School Parent. It was an unexpectedly challenging role, one without additional benefits, or a raise for that matter.

As a direct result of starting school, there was the surprisingly unpleasant changes to our schedule. As parents, we were ill-prepared for the troubled time we had trying to get used to the practice of school.

Gone were the carefree days without plans and plenty of time to kill. This included playing imaginary games indoors or hanging around outside whenever the weather turned nice. Getting to school on time meant becoming the ‘hot mess' mum often seen in movies. I was rushing kids out the door, forgetting lunch boxes and losing car keys.

As a huge morning person, I tried my best to ensure that school mornings remained calm and slow-paced. I prepared as much as possible the night before. But it still felt like we were in a rush, which I really hated.

The trick, I later discovered, was to cover up my feeling of anxiety. I chanted to myself "Do not rush him, no one likes to be rushed" while helping him get through his morning routine and tasks in a timely manner. Whatever frustration (沮丧) I felt about how slow he was moving, I wouldn't let him know it. I even didn't allow anyone in our house to say phrases like, "Hurry up, we're going to be late!" Our common goal, was not just to get our son out the door in time for school, but more importantly prove that mornings can be relaxed and enjoyable, rather than a horrible start to the day.

Of course by the time summer holiday came, our family had grown wise enough. In what felt like the ‘longest shortest time', we went from anxious and confused, to calm and confident once again. We were far more prepared to have a smoother start to the new school year.