I have the child completely ready to walk out the door. Shoes, coats, belongings, everything. When mom's car pulls up, I tell the kid it's time to go, then I open the door and stand in the doorway. My goal is that the kid will walk out the door and onto the porch just as the mom steps foot on the porch. A couple words of small talk and/or a highlight or funny of the day, and gone! It doesn't always work, but I do definitely have them COMPLETELY ready to go before mom even gets here.

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