How Kindergarten Made Me a Better Mom and Entrepreneur

I've been dreading my son starting Kindergarten. My first born, my baby boy...a Kindergartener. I hated the thought.Hated it so much that I celebrated when we missed Kindergarten registration day because he got a stomach virus and thought it was a sign from above when school was delayed by three days because of no electricity.But alas, the night before the first day of school came, and after rah-rahing to him, cheerleader style, for thirty minutes about how great kindergarten is, I sat in my bedroom and cried and cried and cried.So now here we are, three weeks later and I can't tell you the last time I felt so good about the routine I finally have in my life and my business and it's all because of Kindergarten.Let me explain why:

• Rise and shine: For the first time in a very long time, I'm getting an early start on my day. I'm notorious for being a late-riser and although it's great to sleep in, I was easily losing at least three hours of my day. I would try to make these hours up late at night, but would end up making careless mistakes on my work because I was getting tired. So in the end I would just have to go back the next day and fix the sloppy mistakes I was making the night before.

• Getting my day off to a healthy start: The kids and I are able to have breakfast together every morning now. I use this time to go over what both of my kiddos are going to do that day. In the past breakfast was sent with them to daycare or ate while they laid around on the sofa.

• Making the most out of the time I have with my children: I have two days a week with my daughter that are predominately mommy and daughter days. In the past, her brother has been here to keep her entertained and I would find myself drifting back to the computer to do work.  Now she gets the attention that she deserves and I'm more then happy to give it to her. Some days, she loves going to a coffee shop or a cafe for a little change of scenery. She happily eats and works on my mini computer while I'm able to bang out some emails and catch up on what's happening with my clients.

• Making time for work: On the days that I have my support systems in line to watch my daughter, I'm spot on with focus and drive that I haven't felt in so long. I no longer feel guilty for not spending time with my children because the laptop is always there. I'm giving them the time they deserve.

• Making time for my kids: My work day is officially over when it's time to pick my son up from school. Working from after I drop him off in the morning until I pick him up in the afternoon are longer stretches than I used to work. We come home, have a snack together and then go through his bookbag together.

• Creating systems that work and sticking to them: The bookbag. What a magical thing. We go through his bookbag together, talk about the next day and get the whole family's stuff ready at this time. Homework is finished, lunches are packed and everything is stored in one place (the same place) for the next day. There's no more running around in the morning like a crazy disorganized mama because we all know where everything is now.

• Shut everything down at a decent time at night: When it's time to go to bed, I'm not rushing through the routine so I can immediately get right back to work. We take our time and pick out what everyone is going to wear the next day, read at least four books per child and talk about who's going where the next day. After the kids are in bed, I finally have a choice of what to do with my spare time. Sometimes I do work, other times I read a book or spend time with my husband.

• My heart and mind's back in the game: In general, I just feel better. A few months ago I made the decision to make my business fit my life and it was one of the best things that I have ever done. Now I feel like my life finally fits my business.

Has a change in your life made you better at something? Tell us all about it!