Tips for getting organised with school routines, meals, budgeting and housework

[Chaoshastakenover]

After a very chaotic 12months where I have just literally muddled through I’m determined to get us on the straight and narrow dc are back to school this week so I need help with routines .. I don’t want to be scrabbling around in the morning for uniforms chucking together last minute packed lunches that sort of thing so I would like tips and tricks to get our life’s running smoothly.. so stuff to help with budgeting easyish tea’s housework routines stuff like that please

I often batch make lots of stuff for packed lunches that can be easily frozen then just taken out in the morning and it's defrosted by lunchtime. It acts as an ice pack too.

Sandwiches with sliced cheese or any deli meat (sliced ham, turkey, beef etc) work really well for this. As do things like mini quiches baked in cupcake cases. I then tend to add some popcorn or crisps, carrot sticks and a piece of fruit.

Or sometimes I'll batch make a big pasta salad and they'll have that in their lunch box for a couple of days. Tuna, mayo and sweetcorn is really easy.

Uniform is set out the night before, hung over the radiator in each child's bedroom. Shoes, coats and bags live by the front door. We have a box under the stairs that has sun cream and summer hats in the nicer weather then I swap it for gloves and wooly hats when it's colder.

I live by alarms in the morning. We have one for "must get ready now" and another for "have to leave the house in 5 minutes". DDs are not allowed downstairs until they've brushed their teeth, got their uniform on and tidied their bedroom. If I have time in the morning I'll make a big batch of porridge and store extra in the fridge so it can just be microwaved and be a quick breakfast for the next few days. Otherwise on school days it is quick breakfasts only.... usually Weetabix or yoghurt and fruit.

In terms of bedding each bed has two sets and I will do them on separate days but I always strip the bed and then immediately put the spare set on so I'm never rushing to get it all washed and dried in a day.

I did have another adult up until 12months ago and then life changed and for the last 12months we have muddled through and I’m sick of muddling to be honest the older 3 try to take responsibility for there own stuff but find it difficult so I’m trying to simplify the for us all really

I’ve order a 4 draw plastic storage thing for the cupboard under the stairs I will fill each drawer with gloves hats etc and label the draw for each dc… my 9yr old loves pasta so I can do that for his packed lunch

Mine is still in nursery 2 days / MIL once a week but I'm under assessment for ADHD and have to get out the door early for work which is hectic!

• pack or lay out as much as you can the night before: your outfit down to socks and underwear ideally all on one hanger, kids' outfits the same

• I batch cook and freeze banana and fruit pancakes and take one out to defrost the night before, my toddler will eat it in the highchair while I get dressed in the kitchen and has a more substantial breakfast around 8.30 on my working days. So a version of this that would work for you - pancakes out and fruit ready, or cereal and bowls, spoons on the table?

• I have a checklist on the fridge and multiple alarms to go off during the morning to keep me on track. I also bought a timer/stopwatch but haven't ended up using it

• friend of mine with 3 kids has a big planning board by the front door to keep track of all the different days with PE and so on that hers have.

• I keep a caddy in the car with clean socks for us both, spare nappies and wipes and spare set of clothes, could you keep something similar by the front door eg clean socks, spare change as someone suggested (I actually try and keep spare change in my bag for church because I only tend to remember it when I'm actually there)

• batch cooking TBF my husband does our dinner most of the time but I feed toddler, I do tend to batch cook and freeze things for us in Ziploc bags or glass containers. For my toddler I freeze so much in giant ice cube silicone trays, would this be a good portion size for your kids? They're quite large cubes, I feel like one cube of curry or pasta sauce would suit a primary school child and then you could just make pasta or rice, microwave some mixed veg or spinach to go with.

Sorry to hear it 🫂 that really must be so hard and I'm sure you're doing a great job. Very tough when it's all on you though. Could the teenagers do a bit more? I'm a bit biased cos I was cooking for my siblings at 13 after school - not suggesting that 5 days a week but I'm sure they could take on some chores, especially for themselves. 16 yo make a simple dinner once a week?

Your children should be eligible for FSM so why not cut the packed lunches out completely as it’ll save you time AND money? Or at least for some of them. Primary schools usually publish the menu in advance which is probably on a rolling rotation. Secondary schools usually have a grab and go range well as more traditional meals so there should be something there they like.

Have a shopping list eg kitchen whiteboard or shared online shopping list where everyone can contribute to it when they notice that something’s needed. It encourages the older ones to get involved.

Vacuum while they’re at school instead of at 6am. Look into nursery places for disadvantaged 2 year olds.
Why are you washing 5 lots of bedding in one day? You’d make life easier for yourself if you spread it out more.

Another vote from me for a PP’s recommendation of a weekly schedule on the fridge with details of who needs PE kits on which days, who is doing after school clubs on which days etc. And make sure you update your calendar with new events as soon as you find out eg parents evenings, school trips, sports fixtures etc along with whether anything extra is needed eg packed lunch, specific clothing etc

I’m on a roll big tub of tuna pasta done and in the fridge ready for ds packed lunch I bought 5 smaller tubs that fit in his lunch bag so that’s all sorted… all uniform hung up bags at the bottom of the stairs.. food shop getting delivered tomorrow and meals planned for the rest of the week and weekend. I’ve also arranged a milkman that delivers x3 a week. Younger ds school emailed today with pe days so there written down just waiting for older 2 to go back tomorrow and Thursday to get there timetables luckily no food tech lessons so no morning rush for ingredients 🤣

I would say morning should be for showers, breakfast and getting dressed. They should be calm. Everything else should be done the night before. Get the children involved

I hear a lot of people say have 5 sets of uniforms. Makes sense. For work I always make sure I have 5 sets of clothes

The 2 ds have 5 of everything apart from trousers they have 6 pairs as the skinny leg ones come in pairs of 2 so I got the 3 sets each. Dds college uniform is expensive so she has two sets for now but will order an xtra set after Christmas now my alarm is set for the morning and I’ve spent 15minutes straightening the front room and kitchen so I’m not dreading getting up

You've got this OP. I'm not calling you by your username - it clearly needs changing! Wishing you a good week.