[jkvkdailey]

This week has been one of the longest I can ever remember! My kindergartener is usually very easy to wake up, he gets dressed relatively quickly, and will do his bathroom duties without being told. However, this week he has decided to be a lazy bum! He is still getting 10+ hours of sleep each night, but he's impossible to wake up, and then goofs around in the morning. The other day we had a fight about him washing his hands after going to the bathroom, yesterday he didn't want the cereal I poured him (which he initially said he did want), and today it took him nearly 30 minutes to get dressed and brush his teeth. I hate starting our days with a fight because it seems to set a negative tone for the whole day, but he knows that we need to get moving and still wants to dilly-dally. I have tried waking him earlier, putting him to bed earlier, picking out his clothes the night before, and having a reward chart - but nothing has gotten him motivated this week. I do spank, and have been doing so too much this week - but it is the only thing that will get his attention and get him to get dressed, eat breakfast, etc.

Please tell me this is just a phase and it will be over soon! Does anyone have other suggestions?? He almost missed the bus this morning because he was screwing around.

Kim