My mornings start early because I teach a religion class to high school students at 6:45 a.m. so I only have a few minutes with my younger children before we go off to the day. Like you said, the tone makes all the difference not only in how I start my day but in how they start theirs. I've been glad to see the best days are the ones when I don't take that time to remind them of all the things they need to get done.  I think the opportunity to accompany my oldest daughter to the class as her teacher gives my husband opportunity to experience this, too. It has also changed mornings into more independent times for them to learn how to get their own attitudes "up" for the day.