Single parent here, teacher, 2 SEN kids and can't rely on them to help much at all, I have to do any chores along with them to get anything done. Work 4.5 days currently but will be going up to full time in September..have worked full time in the past when they were smaller, with a fairly useless ex..I'm very lucky that my mum has the kids every morning and 4 school pickups a week though. She helps by doing homework with them, reading with youngest, has all the logins for the various school bulletins so knows what's going on. She also will do a bit of ironing for me each week, could you pay your mum to do that, or even a load of washing or two a week? Saves me so much time. I pay her 100 a week year round and it's the best money I spend 🤣
Washing, a load a day, dried on a heated airer, backs of doors and another airer, I use one of those octopus peg things and all smalls are in a bag and on one of those, socks in pairs, pants together by person etc.
Cooking, I do a chicken on a Sunday every other week when I have the kids, that feeds us on a Monday which is always busy, and then on a Tuesday the kids stay late with my mum, she gives them dinner and their dad picks them up, so two nights a week I'm not feeding them.leftover chicken is for salads, pasta or curry later in the week.
Always cook lots of jacket spuds, and freeze, so I can whack them in the microwave in the week for easy dinner.
Try to clean every day, just half hour, use TOMM where you have a room a day and then a focus once a month.
I try to tidy every day just a little, also trying to declutter.
I lay out my clothes every night and I get up about 1.5 hrs before I need to leave so I get some time to myself, even if it's drinking my coffee in bed (I've got a one cup coffee maker on a timer next to my bed, I love it!)
I pack a bag for the next morning as soon as we get in, I hate doing it, but everything, change of clothes etc, goes in for the kids, so that I can just grab it in the morning. Every by the door ready to go. Have lists on the back of the door, on a Sunday we check what's needed, calendar on the back of the door too.
Shopping is done on day off currently but I'll have to start doing it on the way home soon, I'll do it on a Friday as I'm done a bit earlier.
Obviously I'm lucky to have term time only, but I do work at night once kids are in bed and also do private work in the holidays, DIY etc too.
I won't lie, it's exhausting. But I feel like we are pretty organised, even with two ASD and ADHD kids who have meltdowns, sensory stuff, school refusal, issues with any demands or doing anything in a hurry, appointments etc...
Basically I manage, just. If I get to the end of the day and can say all fed, no-one dead, I'm happy! (Actually a lie as sometimes I've forgotten to eat dinner 🤣🤦)
Most important, take time for you. A quiet morning coffee in bed while everyone is still asleep, exercise, even if it's 10 mins yoga from YouTube, whatever. I definitely have it easier than some, I love my job and I like having money and a nice house, although I can't afford to actually heat it 🥶 and I always try to plan a break every so often, just going somewhere different or a few days away camping or whatever. Stuff to look forward to, otherwise it's a bloody slog.