All good points - I'm learning a lot here ! It does get easier - I went back to work full time after 3 months mat leave both times, and the first few months did feel like really hard work, but then you settle into a routine. A lot of it is common sense really, I don't think I do anything special, but it's been really useful to pick up tips from everyone else.
My two pennies
- Don't iron. But I don't have to wear a suit. Last ironed June 2011...
- 2 x school uniforms
- 30 min cycle on the washing machine is the only one I use unless someone has thrown up on sheets etc. )
- Set the washing machine off in the evening, put the wet washing by the back door and hang it out in the morning once the kids are eating their toast
- Rotary washing line with a cover - leave your washing out for days without it getting wet
- Basket at the bottom of the stairs where ALL shoes go so there's no hunting
- School uniform put together the night before
- Half a dozen of those £1 sports bags from ebay, different colours. On Sunday evening load tennis kit, football kit, swimming kit, projects for school etc.
- Two pegs in the corridor - one for coat, school book bag and the appropriate sports bag for the next day. The other peg has all the other bags.
10. 4 week meal rota, and a shopping list for each week so it's a doddle to make sure you get the food you need for the week. Days when there's something on the evening are quick meals - love beans on toast.
11. Milk delivered to the door (luxury of a milkman but our 2 year old has a couple of pints a day).
12. Bread delivered to the door midweek (again, great milkman)
13. Cleaner once a fortnight who vacuums, mops, cleans the kitchen and the bathroom. I'm not house proud but chicken chow mein sticks to the floor like only weetabix can. It's two hours once a fortnight and it's great.
14. Making cooking double up at the beginning of the week - e.g. cook twice as much rice as you need for chilli one day and you've got fried rice the next.
15. Food shopping online is really useful - we don't need to every week but once every two months it's great to top things up
16. Bulk buy things like nappies and wipes - people laugh that I have 150 nappies in the garage but I know we won't run out ! (We don't have a shop in our village and I can't stop at a supermarket on the way to or from work as I'm battling the traffic to get to work on time or to pick up from after school day care before they close).
17. School dinners - no choice ! We had to do packed lunch for two terms and it was miserable (I lack creativity) - I used to do two-three days at a time.