To ask if you’re disorganised as a parent?

[Merryoldgoat]

I’m no organisational wizard but I pay bills on time, reply to emails from school etc and make sure the kids are all sorted with the stuff they need.

I am the Head of Finance for a private school. School starts on Monday. Parents have had bills for 6 weeks and what they can pay using vouchers or Tax Free Childcare is clearly marked. I’ve worked all through summer and responded to any queries within a day or two.

Im still getting a constant stream of questions asking how to sign up for Tax Free Childcare, how to get childcare vouchers, can I set up a Direct Debit etc.

Surely this stuff crosses your mind sooner than the week before school starts?

This is not about late fee payments or financial difficulties etc - that’s totally different and always dealt with sensitively and patiently. It’s the strange lack of urgency people seem to have.

YABU - it’s normal to leave stuff to the last minute, suck it up

YANBU - they should’ve thought about this weeks ago and it’s no wonder you’re frustrated.

There's always a range with people who are super organised at one end and the people who always seem to be unaware what needs doing or leave it all to the very last minute. Like there are late people and early people. It's not just parents.

I'm somewhere in the middle. I'll get things done in time because I'm good at remembering what needs doing and when but don't consider myself a particularly organised person.

You're probably noticing all the disorganised people because they're causing you extra work. There'll be an equal number of organised people.