Help me organise my day better

[Chipbutty67]

I have 2 DC, 6 and 3. My dh often comes home from work around 7 (but this is massively variable and could be 12). I’m a SAHM and I find routine helps a lot with my days but I always mess up the last part of the day and I’m sure I’m missing something.

So DC2 (3 y o) is an early bird and so am I. A typical day will look like this: get up at 6:30, do my housework (organised mum), get myself and breakfast ready, wake the kids at 7:30, dressed, breakfast and off to school/ nursery. I’ll then head to the gym, quick work out and to a hot desk as I work part time self employed. At 12:30 I’ll pick up DC2 and head home. Clean up breakfast, give him lunch, clean up lunch, prep dinner and then play with him till 2:30 when we leave to pick up DC1. DC1 has after school activities 3 days out of 5 (loves them and does them with friends), if not we’ll head to the park or shops. Get home around 4:30, have an after school snack, do homework, have a bath and final clean of the house before dinner. This takes us up to about 6:30.

Here’s where my problem comes in: I’m just shattered by this point and I find it the most trying part of the day. It’s a battle to make both kids eat, the kitchen is a bomb site afterwards, and the absolute worst bit is I’m so snappy with poor DC1 who I’ve hardly seen all day. Often, cleaning up after dinner gets left to the next day, which makes me stressed first thing in the morning. I don’t have patience for a leisurely bedtime story.

The worst part is my grumpiest part of the day is the part I spend with DH and DC1.

Not sure how I can avoid the dinner time trap?

Blimey, jacket potato isn't a snack to me! A snack is rice cakes/toast and peanut butter or an apple or something. Should be around 100 calories - just enough to take the edge off but not too much that he's not hungry for dinner.

Glass of milk just before bed if they need tummies filling at that point.

DH can choose dinner for you and him, or bedtime. If you've prepped dinner earlier (slow cooker or whatever), then he can wash up too.

Breakfast as soon as up, then washed and dressed (how on earth ate they staying clean through breakfast?!) and out of the door.

DC1 is usually starving straight after school so needs a pretty hearty snack (jacket potatoe w beans and cheese, toastie sandwiches, pasta etc) and I think that’s why he isn’t interested in dinner
Those aren't snacks! Those are full on meals, I couldn't eat a dinner a couple of hours after eating any one of those meals!
If he's starving coming out of school give him a banana. Then do dinner at about 5pm.
And no to pre-bed snack. Does he ever stop eating?!

You are trying to make them eat 2 dinners. I'm a single mum. Dinner straight after school. Get the day wound up. Don't keep it lingering on. Get your jobs done.

Glass of milk just before bed if they need tummies filling at that point

But then you'd have to brush teeth again. I wouldn't encourage milk at bedtime

I will give 5:30 dinner a try tomorrow, fingers crossed

Agree with people re jacket potatoes/ pasta, etc - they're not snacks, but full meals. No wonder they don't want dinner.

A jacket potato as a snack followed by another meal two hours later - that's the problem right there, OP.

Tea earlier, supper before bed (toast or similar).