It's time to go and everyone is ready to walk out the door except for my little guy. Voted Most Likely To Make Us Late, my 3-year-old is oblivious to schedules and urgency. And it drives me crazy!

I have two older kids, so I know in general that children are not slaves to the clock like we adults are. Sometimes you have to inspire or even trick them to get them going. And sometimes that works with my little guy. If I make a race of the situation, he will often rally and hurry up to beat me, giggling all the way.

But he is also just as likely to resist my enticements and continue on in his own little games. Games like dancing around like a tiger or making “funny hair” with his shirt. Or just sitting there. And my brain is screaming, “Just get dressed! It's time to leave!” But if I push him too hard, he melts down into a tantrum. It is a tricky line to walk.

There are times when enough is enough, and I've scooped him up and put him in the van in his pajamas, bringing his clothes along. Sure, he cries, but sometimes we really have to get going. And hopefully he'll begin to learn to get moving a bit faster.

Summer has been pretty easy, of course, with minimal deadlines for getting the family out the door. But with school routines just around the corner, we'll see how it goes. I need to brush up on my inspirational tactics to get everyone where they need to be on time. Here's hoping for a smooth transition!