Don’t you just sometimes wish to escape parenthood on weekends? Imagine, relishing the chance to sleep just an or hour so more on Saturday mornings only to have your little misfits barging in the bedroom at seven demanding breakfast. If only you could wave a hand away and haughtily yell “Let them eat cake!” Oh, what a happy revolution that would cause! But then again, what kind of parent would that make you? Tsk!

So, to give you some hope that yes, you can be selfish on weekends, here are some useful tips on keeping those pattering little feet from ruining your much-needed extra hour of sleep:

If your kids are of school-age, you can prepare their breakfast the night before. Get individual plastic bowls with air-tight lids (color-coordinated for every child – red for Adam, pink for Ana) and fill them with cereal. Leave the bowls on the kitchen counter or island. Pour enough milk into a small thermos and store in the refrigerator.

You may also prepare sandwich fillings to be put in compartmentalized containers with labels for the ingredients – tomatoes, chicken/egg salad, cheese slices, etc. Prepare enough bread slices for the kids and put them in an airtight container to be left on the counter. Leave a jug of fruit juice or milk for the kids in the refrigerator.

Make sure that you involve the kids in the process too. Let them help you measure food. Instruct them where to get the food items. Remind them where to put the soiled dishes afterwards.

If the eldest is already a teenager, then you can put him or her in charge of the younger siblings. If the kids are old enough to be left alone in the kitchen and they actually turn out to be culinary inclined, ask them to surprise you with a full breakfast menu when you wake up!

A little independence for an hour or two won’t hurt the kiddies. This new weekend ritual may actually help them learn a bit or two about self-reliance. And more importantly, you’ll be having your cake and eat it too!