I failed at the final hurdle!

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Accepting the prize for crap mum of the day is....Joolyjoolyjoo

dd1 started school in the summer. I was really nervous about it- not for her, I knew she would love it, which she does. No, I was nervous for me. All the other mums seem to know what they are doing with all the ins and outs of school, and I was really scared! I was sure I would forget to put her homework book in her bag/ forget her lunch etc etc.

I managed to have her homework done every night, and returned to school. I remembered every Tuesday was PE day. I never once forgot her lunch money, and I managed (with much stress and rushing!) to get her on the school bus every day.

This week has been fraught with potential disasters for me- lots of things to remember!

On Monday and Tuesday, I had to remember to put her PE kit on under her uniform, so she could easily change for the nativity play. Then to have a card and present organised and wrapped for each of the two birthday parties that she had been invited to on those days. I remembered where each party was being held, and managed to drop her off and pick her up on time.

On Wednesday I had to remember it was the day they were going to the Pantomime, and I had to pack a sandwich for her- nothing messy, no lunchbox, no schoolbag.

On Thursday it was her school party. I remembered to iron her party dress and buy her new tights, and to send her to school in it. Also remembered to write invitations to her birthday party in January and put them in her bag.

Today was the last day of term (Halleluia!!) Remembered to buy and wrap presents for teacher/ bus driver and lollipop man, and bring them to the bus with me. Managed to hustle all 3 kids out of the door in time to catch the school bus before dropping other 2 off at 2 different nurseries and then getting to work. Arrived at bus stop to see all other children not in school uniform. DD1 IS in school uniform. Other mums look like this . "Did you not remember today is NON-UNIFORM DAY???" Aghast. DD1 crying. No time to go home and change. Nothing I could do

She told me when I picked her up that she was the ONLY kid in the whole school in uniform I cried. Feel really crap, and like I fell at the very last hurdle!! Was SOO hoping one of the other "uber-mums" would have forgotten too, but apparently I am the ONLY crap mum in the school. Sob. Please tell me someone else has done this before?....

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

obviously the teacher and the bus driver are two seperate people! Must have got my comma and my forward slash mixed up- see, I can't even do THAT right

[MistleSQUONKandWine]

can everyone who has never done this, please stand up?

we've ALL done it, or something similar. I promise.

I once had to drive miles to catch up with the school coach which was taking the children on a school trip so I could give dd1 her packed lunch which I had, of course, forgotten all about.

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

AAArgh- sepArate!!!!

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

MistleSQUONK- at least you could drive after the school coach! As terrible working mum, I couldn't even offer to bring clothes up to school for her to change into

[MistleSQUONKandWine]

I was self-employed at the time, so I ignored work for a bit.

Don't beat yourself up, seriously, getting three kids up and out of the house in time for you to go to work is an achievement I have never managed, I've always either worked from home, not worked or had less children!

You are doing a fab job (really, you are)

Honestly, everyone has done something similar. Or worse.

If it would help, is there another mum you can ask to remind you of things like this, just in case you forget again? (you are guaranteed to never forget then)

[MissusHoHoHo]

breathe, Jooly, breathe....

dd1 is in y2 and I still forget stuff (homework/spellings/reading diary/trip money)

Your dd will be fine - after next week it will probably be the last thing on her mind...

[mckenzie]

I did it! Earlier on this it was sleepwear day and I forgot and so did DS. All the other children larking about in dressing gowns and slippers etc and DS in his uniform. I too felt awful so you have my deepest sympathy jjj.

[callmeovercautious]

Oh bless her, and you! Don't feel too bad, make it up to her at her Birthday Party by making it really good

I am (well DD!) not at the school stage yet but I always forget the fancy dress at Nursery, or that it is photos day etc. I am buying one of those organised Mum books so I can collate everything in one place.

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Thanks guys! I only work 2 days a week, but it had to happen on one of my working days, didn't it?? I could ask the other mum at the bottom of my street to remind me, but she is so smug about these things it makes me grit my teeth! It's just stubborness on my part, but I just wanted to make the grade all by myself (as my 3yo would say!!)

Think in future I need to pore over each and every letter sent home from school and write every tiny thing on the calendar (although I thought I was...not sure how blummin Non-Uniform day slipped under my radar)

I just feel so judged by the other mums- even though they seem very nice, I can see the judging going on behind their fake-smiles (paranoid? who me? )

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

mckenzie- thank you for that! makes me feel a bit better I take it your ds forgave you?

[MistleSQUONKandWine]

If they are judging you, they can smirk on the other side of their playground mafia faces, because they will have done something similar, or if they haven't, then they will do it in the future.

I write everything on my calendar, no matter how trivial.

(I still get things wrong though )

[MissusHoHoHo]

I write everything on the calendar but then forget to look

[treedelivery]

Jooljoolyjoo - Oh dear GOD I'll never cope with school. Never. I'll end up sending dd with my uniform and I'll turn up to work with a PE Kit.

I think your amazing. Can you be PA to my dd?

[pageturner]

Everone forgets stuff, all the time. I have 3 too, and don't even work, and I still can't keep all the balls in the air. Honestly. I now have a big diary where i write EVERYTHING: all the school stuff, appointments, parties, shopping lists...it's the only way I keep track. Don't feel bad, you sound like you're doing brilliantly to me.

[Lancelottie]

Just you wait till your daft 9-yr-old sits bolt upright in bed and announces 'I need a toga and a Greek Feast today!'

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Lancelottie- DON'T!! Just the thought of that is making my heart race and my palms start sweating!

MistleSQUONK- I am going to be SOO vigilant with the calendar next year. (Maybe even recording any dates when and if any of the other ubermums screw up,eh?

Maybe I need to do the post-it-note thing too. I can see me developing a mild case of OCD due to this harrowing experience (as predicted, dd1 was over it the minute she got to open her christmas sweeties!)

[jimjamshaslefttheyurt]

I've done it. Once. Then became uber paranoid!

I bet she wasn't the only one.

[MistleSQUONKandWine]

tis always a source of good giggle-time when an uber mum stuffs up.

Just be careful that you don't get too perfect, you don't want the other mums thinking you're an uber mum

[Poledra]

Jooly, I did exactly the same thing ealier this term - DD1 was a bit blue on the day but she's not mentioned it since (other than telling me that evening that her lovely Reception teacher had given her some tinsel to wear). And I was fortunate that she was not the only child in the school whose mother forgot.

And my friend, whose daughter also started Recption this year, forgot the teddy for the teddy bear's picnic.

We all do it, DO NOT beat yourself up. I'm not even working at the moment, BTW (on maternity leave)

[dingdongDOZYMAREishigh]

You are doing a fantatic job! Please don't give yourself a hard time, we have all done things in a similar vein and our kids have lived to tell the tale!

May I suggest this though (can't do links for toffee, so apologies)

www.organisedmum.co.uk

I buy the family planner which is a lifesaver!

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

See, now I am starting to believe that I am fairly normal, and the rest of them are RobotMums Keep em coming, guys- you are soothing my guilt complex!

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Ooh- I like the look of the organised mum thingy- thanks for that! Surely with all those pads and stickers I will be an ubermummy in no time!! Quite (sadly) excited at the thought. Be good if it did alarm messages too, though, huh- "ARROOOGA AROOOGA remember tomorrow is no-uniform day!" blaring out through the house might just ensure I don't get it wrong again!

[seeker]

My ds needed a Roman costume for Thursday and my friend said "Oh don't worry, I've got one" She gave me a bag, which I didn't open til 5.00 on Thursday morning (I'm a very early riser) In the bag was a Crusader costume, complete with lots of crosses! I spent a frantic hour with a glue gun sticking cardboard over the offending insignia.

Oh and I actually forgot to pick up a friend's child once. Left her at school - didn't realize a thing til I got a frantic phone call an hour later,

You're doing brilliantly, OP!

[dingdongDOZYMAREishigh]

go for the family weekly planner - you basically put all family names at top - so easy to plan! It quite literally, keeps me sane as I am mum of 3 as well....

(I also set a daily alarm on my mobile for 0810 which basically means get the hell out of the house, or you will be late for school )

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Right- have just ordered the weekly planner- surely this will transform my life?! I will go from dizzy disorganised to-be-pitied mum to superwoman! Or something. Can you really accomplish all that with £9.78? Here's hoping!