So this week Ted officially started pre-school. We moved him from a brilliant nursery in to the pre-school next door to us... for those of you that don't know we live right next door to a school. We want him to experience the school environment and structure, he is a smart two year old and we think by introducing him to the new environment so he can continue to thrive and learn!

As families prepare for the dreaded ‘back to school’ week - it’s not just kids who bear the brunt of the ‘morning madness.’ Unfortunately for parents, 65% of mums and dads forego something to get the kids out of the front door like breakfast (36%) or end up fighting with their partner over who takes on the most in the morning (38%).

Parents don’t just feel the ‘back to school’ pressure at home…44% feel under pressure too appear to be stress-free and 'together' in front of the other parents at the school gate in the morning -  with dads feeling the pressure more than mums (49% men versus 46% of women).

Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who has been working with belVita Breakfast to help relieve parents, particularly in the morning where most of the pressure lies, says: “The stress and challenges of parenting can feel overwhelming - especially when we feel under pressure to get a lot done in a short space of time- morning can be especially challenging and it’s key to develop a positive, convenient routine in the morning as it sets the rhythm for the day. When it’s ‘back to school time’, trying to get everything done and leaving the house on time is at its most pressurised so developing strategies that you give you and your family a sense of control is really important.”

Over a half (51%) of parents feel stress would be reduced if the kids just did what they were asked, whilst over a fifth (21%) of pray for a fairy god mother out of pure desperation!
However, others look for solutions to deal with the battle of the morning routine, with nearly a quarter (22%) wishing they tackled what was thrown at them with ease and 21% wishing to find cheats to help them out in the morning.

“Parents don’t need to panic! There are ways we can relieve the morning madness, simple strategies like connecting with kids in the morning so they're more co-operative or preparing things from the night before can make a big difference to the morning mood of a family unit.  Small changes and combining some short term quick wins and convenient cheats will pay off in the long term.”

Daniel Kessler from belVita says “We believe a Good Morning can set you up for the day – doesn’t mean it’s always that easy! However, what the research shows is that parents are looking for ways to feel more in flow and help their routine. belVita is a tasty and convenient breakfast option, meaning you can focus on getting the family out of the door but able to make sure you can cover off your own morning must-haves.”

Top 10 most stressful things about parenthood

1	Keeping the house tidy and the chores up to date (38%)
2	Getting the children ready and out of the door in time for school (31%)
2	Getting back into a school/morning routine after the school holidays (31%)
3	Getting children to do their homework/reading (27%)
4	The bedtime routine (26%)
5	Getting children to eat certain foods (26%)
6	Getting children to clean their teeth (24%)
7	Making sure my children are well behaved in public (23%)
8	Getting children out of bed in the mornings (21%)
9	Meal times (20%)
10	The School run (19%)

For those of you like me who struggle to get out of the house on time, i thought i would share with you this handing morning hacks guide that Dave Hax and belVita put together: