Getting ready for school

[MilkCereal]

Ok so we have 2dc and both work ft. I'm preparing for the madness of school. Got uniform etc sorted. Now going to do some food preparation this week so we have some easy meals. Anything else people do to prepare in sane situation? DC go to after school club so not home until after 5pm.

Any tips gratefully received as it does become a bit chaotic and honestly I'm dreading it!

@BIKERUNSKI yes this is part of the problem dh is often not back and kids do after school stuff a few times a week too. Ds is a fussy eater but I think hes just going to have to get on with it. Yes I think slow cooker and batch cook might be the way to go. So stews, bolognese, chilli curry- any other ideas?

I think a flask for lunches for my dd might be great idea too.

You're doing great if you're getting them out! I have 3 DC - 2 teens now- and a 9 yo with ASD and ADHD. He can be a nightmare in the morning to motivate/ can overly focus on everything. PP are right about being organised the night before and routine. Rules for smallest are:

Set out uniform before bed.

Lie in bed once mummy has woken you if you like.

Get dressed before going downstairs.

Medicines/ teeth/ shoes as soon as in the hall.

Choose own snack. Any time left after breakfast- TV/ Switch.

Out the door by 8:10 at latest for breakfast club.

Homework as soon as we come home with a snack (or it doesn't get done).

Teens look after themselves now, thank God. They are a 3 minute walk to school. My main concern is the state of the kitchen if they come back at lunch with friends!

Lots of rugby in the week for us, so similar ' Eat when you can' food that can be heated or easy pasta/ stir fry/ chicken and rice.

Easiest dinner on the planet: pasta, pop in broccoli for last bit of the boil. Drain- add smoked salmon, knob of butter and squeeze of lemon. Takes minutes and everyone loves it.

Pesto pasta in thermos bowls for school is a life saver for me, when I put the kettle on for me cuppa, I put the pan on with water for the pasta.
My top tip is no TV in the morning, have the radio on, singing along to the songs just seems to make us all go faster
I also found that any kind of visual stimulation can distract any child from the age of 17 months to 17 years...just that glowing fast moving picture in the corner can make them lose any ability to eat cereal at the same time!
The reward chart works a treat...brushing hair..brushing teeth..making bed...put everything on there...in the end it just becomes habit and you won't have to say the same thing 15 times or ffs at least 5 times before you leave the house.
One last thing.....its basically the same in every house...somedays it's fabulous and ya nail it...other days you google boarding school costs.

Boarding school costs

We always get dressed after breakfast & teeth otherwise DC would get everything down their uniforms & have to change.