WOHMs tell me about your preschoolers routine after work/nursery/childminder - because mine ain't working

[wonderstuff]

I have 2, 3yo and 7mo - I work 3 days dh is ft. After nursery pick up dd is dog tired, she fights sleep all day, won't nap at nursery, she is with mil one day and its 50/50 whether she'll nap there, she often naps in the car on the way home, wakes up in a fowl mood and this evening its been melt down central. We try to do a family dinner, but I'm thinking that needs to be knocked on the head... mil can give her a decent feed, but nursery do sandwiches or similar at 4pm
Sorry routines are uber dull, but really at a loss as to how to get this to work..

I have two of similar ages (4 and 1) and work 4 days a week. I pick them up from nursery about 5.00pm, then home for 5.10pm (luckily nursery is just down the road).

As its such a short journey, napping isn't really an issue. Is it the older one that nods off in the car? Try chatting / pointing things out to stop her from nodding off.

I don't attempt a family meal, as they have their main meal at lunch and a light tea at nursery (similar to yours). I give the older one some toast, fruit or cereal and the younger one some porridge or a yoghurt.

I start getting them ready for bed around 6.00pm if they are having a bath (every other night, unless particularly dirty!) or 6.15 if going straight to bed. Older one goes to the toilet, cleans teeth, puts on pyjamas, has story, drink of milk then bed for 7.00. Youngest still has a bf in the evening, so I do that at 7.00 when the older one is in bed.

I eat later once they are in bed. We save family meals for the weekend when everyone is home (DP works shifts so often on my own in the evenings).

This just about works.

I've only got one DS (2.4)so it may not be of help but I do nursery pick up about 6pm and just a few mins in the car to home so don't have any issues with napping on the way. I do not bother with family tea at the moment as he has tea at nursery about 4pm so I just do a snack. Fruit, toast, milk that type of thing. We only do bath every other night unless he has got really grubby. Then into PJ's, teeth a book or a bit of tv and into bed 7.15/7.30 latest.

We have the occasional melt down but this is usually if he is really tired. The very quick evening routine works for me. Good luck getting it sorted for you.

i have 2 dds, one is 4 and is nearly 2. I get home from work 6ish (4 days a week). Luckily our CM gives them dinner-they would be in no fit state for a family dinner. I wouldn't bother with that if you can avoid it. Maybe a snack for the 3yo if she is still hungry. Or could you give her a snack to eat in the car to try and keep her awake?When we get home it's pretty much bath, a bit of mucking around/TV/books then bed at 7.30.

Thanks thats really helpful. Nursery is near my work and is a 20 min drive/occasional 45 min bus ride home - so a bit of a pita. I think we will ditch dinner and do a bedtime snack instead - I had got to the point where I couldn't see the wood from the trees! Not always easy this parenting lark is it!