Not to know how to manage my evenings with DD?

What's your salary? How much does that work out per hour? Maybe become a substitute teacher until she's older or something?

Can't you do the hours housework when she is in bed? Or even if you did half as you do now and half an hour when she's sleeping that would give you time to read with her. Other homework can be done on the weekend. If you work on her going to sleep on her own that will free up time for you to do that also. Or just accept that you need to lower standards and maybe do more housework on a weekend.

I think this depends on what kind of people you are, we're all night owls in this house so reading on a morning is totally out of the question, we're all like zombies 😂

Do you have a table in the kitchen? I always had a table in the kitchen and the kids do their reading and homework while I cook and clear up. If I'm not eating with the kids I would still cook it then. Now I've got a place with no room in the kitchen for a table it's thrown me and im behind with everything!

For reception age it's less than 5 mins a day for reading. I teach early years so my kids were reading before they started school meaning I could doss on reading practice in reception if needed. Even if you just recognise letters in signs on your commute and practice the sounds instead of the names you will be helping so much- that's how I taught mine I never sat them down to learn that young. If you don't have time you don't have time just do it both weekend days for 15 minutes.

If you read at bedtime run your finger along the words as you read and ask child to point to letter a etc a couple times.

But honestly so many parents don't read with their kids at all so anything is better than nothing

You leave school at 3:30 on every day you work?? Really? What about staff meetings or clubs or parents evenings or clearing up and planning for the next day or marking?? My school only finishes at 3:20. There are still kids to supervise at 3:30.
I do think that it’s possible to leave approximately 30 mins after the school day finishes on some days and if you are extremely organised.
When do you do all your planning and marking?

I would imagine your role has a lot more work involved than mine.

I get to work for 7.15/7.30 so have until 8.45 to get stuff done. I work through lunch if needed. I’ve been in the same year group for ages so have all the resources and know what I’m doing. I have a really good TA.

I do work part time but this was exactly the same when I was full time and a couple of full time colleagues do the same. Our school isn’t particularly family friendly but I’m not prepared to sacrifice my family life for work and am not interested in a promotion so if it doesn’t get done then so be it.

I do think teaching is a career where you could work constantly and never feel done. You have to draw the line somewhere.

You could make a chicken & veg soup on Sunday and heat that up during the week? Or a bolognese sauce and then just heat up while you cook some pasta? Just thinking of winter when you both might want something hot when you get home! Otherwise your evening routine sounds fine, reading is only 10 mins in reception and can be done at bedtime or after tea.

I would be looking for a new job if it was taking over my life to that extent.

I’m a primary teacher and on the days I work I leave at 3.30, collect children at 4/4.15, play/cook/sort bags and homework etc until dinner at 6. Everyone eats together and then start bedtime routine.

You must be incredibly stressed.

Just want to say that mama you are doing a great job with your little one. You are working and managing - the fact that you are thinking you should be doing more just shows how much you care. I think all she wants is to be close to you in the evening and days you are off work/weekends!

I think this sounds fine! Try not to worry, v similar to our routine :)

If she is eating good food that is all fine. Try cooking on the weekends and see what does she like.

She is very easy child tbh. There are so many of us who had tremendous journeys with our kids eating

Can you:

• have dinner with her and use this time to connect and maybe read aloud instead of tv (during and after, she can do homework)
• do the laundry/work after she's asleep?

I hope you find the right routine: I find routines very important and sometimes I struggle too, so can relate. But I'm not a single parent! I sincerely salute you! 🙌

My DD has just started year 1. DH or I pick him up from after school club about 5:10pm, then walk home (nearby).

One of us always does a hot meal and we eat together as a family (often something quick like baked potato or fish cakes and veg, something fancier if one of has WFH that day and had a good break at lunch). My rule after school mid week is no TV (he watches a lot in the mornings pre school) so DS plays in the kitchen/diner while I prep dinner or he “helps” me prep the meal.

Then we eat together and he’ll play for 20 minutes or so or we’ll do his homework (this is usually just weekly), and I’ll sit with him as we have a sofa in the kitchen/diner/play area, or I’ll read to him/get him to read to me.

Then it’s bath at about 6.30pm, bedtime stories and songs/nursery rhymes and I stay with him til he falls asleep around 7.30/45pm.

Could you batch cook a bit at weekends then eat together after school? Reading practice/homework should only take 10-20 minutes in reception.

Go easy on yourself; you can only do what you can.

An hour seems a long time for the bedtime routine- what do you do?

It's so hard, I only work 3 days (not even 3 in a row) and find it a struggle, genuinely don't know how people manage to maintain it for 5 days. Only thing I could suggest that might save you a bit of time is you have tea same time as DD, then once she's in bed you're not starting food prep/eating again and you can then just get straight to house duties/work. Honestly, not sure what your financial situation is like but personally I would considering cutting my hours or looking for a job where I was at home more. I feel like that situation long term is not sustainable! I guess on the plus at least you have school holidays. Sorry if that's not helpful

Can you leave earlier some evenings just to give yourselves a break?

Some nights I do quite a bit of work so I can have others off. Could you do that and put cleaning and washing on the off nights or do more at the weekend?

Out if interest why especially girls?

This might not help but actually I found reading at night absolutely awful when they were little as we were both so tired!!

We built it into our morning routine and got up 15 mins earlier to fit it in when everyone was feeling positive and well rested!

I'd say by the time she starts getting proper homework (unless she's at a really pushy school) she'll probably be going to bed 30 minutes to an hour later than she is now which gives plenty of time after her snack to get it done before bedtime.

Yes to this ^

You have quite a long bedtime routine - what does it consist of?

I'd be fine with her eating what she eats while watching TV. Maybe include more protein choices if you know she only had cheesy pasta for the afternoon meal. A scrambled egg or egg mayo might work, or tuna mayo.

How much laundry do two people generate, and how much mess is there to clean up daily?

I'd do reading practice as much as possible during the week and take the weekend to do longer stretches and read to her.

I'd also take the weekend to do some batch cooking - making a bolognese sauce or cooking a hearty soup wouldn't take too long (and she could help you). Then you'd have something to serve every day instead of having to spend time cutting up veggies and making sandwiches every night.

I'd also try to get all the laundry done on the weekend too. Do you have a dryer?

You sound absolutely fine and normal btw. The annoying thing about our after school club was they did their tea about 4.30. ALWAYS ended up doing something else after. I can now make scrambled egg on toast in under 2 minutes though.

We have a similar, very busy life. I always say I'm "time poor"

Home at 5.30.
DD watches tv/plays whilst I cook tea, with aim to sit down for 6, finished at 6.30. I think this 30 mins whilst I cook is when homework time will likely be.
Tidy up and feed the pets takes 15 minutes which she will then have some dessert or play/tv
If it's a bath night, we're usually done by 7.15.
We then settled down together and watch some relaxing tv/film and have a glass of milk then read a book in her bed where she's in bed for 8.
That gives us 1-2 hours for ourselves to either tidy/sort packed lunches, relax before sleep for 10.

It's tight and we have to be careful with time otherwise it's a domino effect.