My advice would also be not to build up a simple outing to much. If my kids here the night before, "Tomorrow you'll get to go to the grocery store with Daddy," over and over, there's more disappointment if things don't go smoothly and we don't do the store for a few more days. Like it says above, sometimes surrendering a shopping, library, or museum trip in favor of the neighborhood park is worth it.

Get help. If you are going out with a friend, suggest you meet at your house and go to your destination together so there are an extra set of hands around. All too often caregivers martyr themselves (I do this constantly) to appease their children and end up feeling stressed as a result. Children can always sense anxiety.

i think it is important to get everyone involved in the getting ready and helping to get ready. kids and adults alike. all too often i see moms wrangling food, toys, kids, and all their other accessories while the kids (and spouses) watch tv or play. it is infinitely more helpful to just have everyone be in charge of their own stuff.

I agree with aneelee. I work at a daycare and see moms stressing over this alot. The saying "never do for a child what a child can do for themselves" comes to mind! Your 5 year old is fully capable of putting on their own coat, if you ask.

yes definitely giving your children small tasks that they are capable of is a great way to get things moving. we always pack our snacks together and i hand my eldest son a small bag to pack his own toys and any extra clothes he wants. it's fun(ny) to see what ends up in the bag! While he's busy getting his own things packed, I am busy getting the stroller or car packed.

In the past I've had trouble getting my son dressed before going places, so i just packed a set of clothes and changed him at our destination! It's much easier to convince a toddler to get his socks and shoes on when he sees other kids playing at the park!

Great ideas! I think wearing your baby and having lots of good bags are key :) Here is a market bag I made and am Giving Away soon...

http://lovelybud.typepad.com/lovely-bud/2010/04/more-winners-and-the-bag-i-am-giving-away.html

With a four under age 6, if I want to go out, I'd either have to be very oganized (I've never been that girl), or very relaxed. If my children are in some sort of clothing and have on some sort of shoes, we're good to go. I let the 4 and 6 year old take care of their own outfits, and though I sometimes cringe, I let it be. I also keep lots of stuff in the trunk of the van -- extra everything.

I wear only shoes that can slip on, and so do my kids. (Every year I curse the first snowfall...the daily getting on of boots and mittens and etc. adds a good 25 minutes to my morning.)

The key for is to not take everything and the kitchen sink along with us. I have a sunblock stick in my backpack, some diapers/wipes in the car, and whatever other miscellany has managed to stay in our car. The stroller usually isn't in the car, our Ergo sometimes is and sometimes isn't. If I don't have blankets, extra clothes, snacks, cups, water bottles, toys... eh, isn't it more fun to just GO somewhere without all the accessories?

I've traveled relatively lightly with my son since birth. I know some parents are probably exhausted with hearing this, but nursing and baby wearing seriously reduce the amount of junk you have to take along for the first few years. We're very middle-class, very stuff-oriented people, but with my son I knew that if I fell into the trap of "he must have THIS when we leave the house" then we'd never leave the house. We've gotten to go so many places as a family because there's usually nothing in particular that has to come along. It's a relief.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. Going out with my two youngest (3 and 1) seems so intimidating sometimes! It's nice to hear that others feel the same, and to learn how we're all tackling it.

I totally agree with the last piece of advise. I don't stress unless I'm meeting someone. Even so. I tell all my friends to expect me to be a few mins late. I strive to be 15 mins early, so with the last minute stuff, I know I will be on time or atleast only a few mins late.

Make the process of getting ready fun, not a power struggle.. that's when it starts to go downhill and no one is having fun.. isn't that the point, after all?

We commute by bus/Metro so packing up everything the night before and having clothes laid out has worked out so far for us. Daughter is 14 months old and she knows the routine. Husband and I each have our morning tasks and if one of us hasn't done something the other will pick up. It's taken awhile, but teamwork helps so much in getting everyone out of the house.

Pack less unnecessary items!

The mom in the photo is literally weighed down by all of her bags! Is she going away for the weekend, or just a few hours at the zoo?!!
The baby is engulfed in 3 blankets that I can see and mom has 3 separate bags. Seriously people, you are making it HARDER on yourselves!

I am such an advocate for backpack as diaper bag. I need my hands free and don't want to hang something on the stroller handles. Small backpack is great.
I also try to get my son involved in getting ready like grabbing his shoes and socks to bring to me.

I have three girls, ages 3 and 1(twins). The two keys to getting out of the house for me (and for doing anything away from home for that matter), are 1) always leave a diaper bag packed near the door or car, and check it every night to make sure it's stocked with diapers, snacks, sunscreen, etc.; and 2) RELAX - swallow all notions of time and efficiency, breathe deeply, and remember that it's more important to be pleasant around your kids than it is to cram 10 activities into a day.

Other things that help: Plan to go grocery shopping late at night by yourself or once per week with the kids when you have LOTS of time; leave far earlier than you think you need to for appointments and never, ever schedule anything back-to-back; store a few pairs of shoes and socks by the door you use most often; ALWAYS put your keys/phone/wallet in the exact same place when you enter the house, so you always know where it is; and leave emergency supplies in your car/stroller at all times (diapers, wipes, snacks, change of clothes if you're potty training).

haha .... i agree with the comment about the photo of mom with tons of bags and blankets! insane!!! i strive for one small bag that i can throw over my shoulder and the beco carrier for my one year old! anything extra my four year old carries himself in his little bag.

I think what worked for me & my 2 children is going out a lot. the more we went out, the more the kids (and i) got used to handling different situations (tantrums, long queues). I do have to thank my extreme/border line OCD organisation methods as well.

I remember the first time i went on an overnight trip with my 5 month old - just for one night - I started making a list like a week before - packed like 10 outfits. Hilarious when i look back now! It gets better with time! Backpacks are awesome! and my advice is please think - pack only absolutely necessary stuff...no kid needs 5 diff toys! This is also a good time to make them learn to make do with what is available.

I ditto the bag in the car. Also, I don't always take drink/snacks. Most of the time he is too busy playing to think about it and I end up carrying it. I just bot him a cute backpack from SkipHop (the monkey) that is his size. I always have 2 diapers, small pack of wipes, hand sanitizer. Thats it. The cool thing is that the straps will actually loosen so that i can wear it. I have my keys and wallet pouch so that I can pull it out of my purse and grab my cell and we're gone!

Granted all this is changing in a few weeks with the arrival of #2. I've been pretty spoiled at being able to travel light. But the Ergo is my best friend...

O.k. so I only have a two month old so I am new at this and just figuring it out. I have a slim cell phone case that has a slot that fits two cards... my id and my debit card. That way when I slip my phone in my back pocket "I" am ready to go I keep gum, chap-stick and a compact of powder in the car which means I don't need a purse and will now be adding to this "car stash" because of the advice above. Thanks!

I have several strategies I use so we're ready to go always:
1) I leave the diaper bag with 3 diapers or more each kid and wipes/sanitizer in the car as well as a tub of non-perishable snacks permanently. I also leave 2 diapers/wipes/sanitizer in our stroller basket permanently so I have them always.
2) I permanently wear a Peanut Shell sling so I'm ready to sit baby in it while I help my toddler get ready, as well. It also helps when we're shopping--baby in sling, and toddler in shopping cart. Also in museums and malls, baby can have variety by switching between sling and stroller.
3) We all use slip on shoes which are always by the door.
4) I dress kids and myself up for the next day after our nightly shower. Baby always wears Johnny socks, the ones that look like shoes :-) I also almost always try to use comfy skorts from Athleta so I don't worry about bending over or squatting with 2 kids.
5) In the winter, I only use my vest pockets as my purse--cellphone, credit/debit/Costco/identification/Metrocard, pocket camera, keys go in there. In the summer, I keep all these items in a very small sling bag ready to go.
6) We have the Joovy Caboose ultralight--excellent and fairly light stroller for 2 kids. I use this at least twice a day, it's wonderful!
7) I try to put make up on first thing in the morning and it takes just about 1 minute--brush of mineral powder, line eyes and maybe if I feel like it lip gloss and bronzer on cheeks, eyes & nose.