Having three kids at three different schools was hard. My life was a constant juggling act. It was a jigsaw puzzle I could never entirely fit together. So I was VERY pleased to only have two schools to deal with this year – particularly as it meant I had three kids at grammar school.
Two schools would be much easier to deal with than three, right?
So far, it isn’t.
Because I’m dealing with a school which is further away than either of the kids’ previous schools. I’m also dealing with new beginnings – going into Year 7 and Year 12. The start of the school year is always the hardest part as everyone adjusts to the changes.
My younger son informed me his rugby would be on a Monday after school this year. Fine.
Then my daughter announced her hockey was on a Monday after school.
Of course they finished at the same time. In two different towns. So I had to find someone to pick my son up.
My daughter is under strict instructions that she is only allowed to do one after-school activity at a time. I don’t have the time to drive to pick her up. I can’t always find someone to give the others a lift. And I’m paying an absolute fortune for her to use a bus, so I want her to use it.
Then there was the realisation that my daughter’s music lessons would be prohibitively expensive. Then my son’s broken guitar string. But in replacing the guitar string, maybe I found my daughter some cheaper violin lessons? I’m still waiting to find out for sure.
I’m filling in letters and writing cheques. I’m checking emails and providing lunch money (the new school doesn’t have online payments). I’m making sure the PE kits and gum shields are clean on the right day – and chasing up the PE kit I bought for my son last term which hadn’t arrived by the start of term.
I’m hoping the majority of the letters and cheques have been dealt with and we will all start to remember what kit is needed on what day. At some point, I’m sure having only two schools to deal with rather than three will be easier.
We’re just not quite there yet…
September 25, 2017
Hope it gets better. The after school activities side of things sounds like a real pain. I thought all secondaries did online payment these days, but obviously not.
September 25, 2017
Thanks very much! I think we just need to adjust to it! Luckily my daughter wasn’t too keen on hockey, so hopefully that won’t happen too often. I’ve just signed up for online payments for school trips etc, but it doesn’t include dinner money. Both of the kids’ old schools had online payments for dinner money!
September 25, 2017
Ahh! You’ll get into the swing of things eventually.
We are still finding our feet with the new school year. My youngest is doing 2 after school clubs but thankfully she walks home with friends.
September 25, 2017
Thanks, I’m sure we’ll get it sorted, it’s still early days. It’s great that your daughter can walk home with her friends.
September 25, 2017
Yikes, I feel you, it’s the after school activities that’s the hardest when they clash. I’m sure it’ll get better.
September 25, 2017
Thanks very much! I’m sure it will. Luckily, my daughter wasn’t that keen on hockey. I wouldn’t tell her not to do it, but if she chooses not to, that’s fine by me!
September 25, 2017
We have the same issue with after school clubs in that N can only do one and that’s because the OH can just about pick him up because they finish at 4.15, but I’d then need to get him to after school club elsewhere until 5.30. Because the after school pick up at 3.15. If he wants to do more I have to beg around other people. And we only live 5 mins drive away. Thankfully he doesn’t want to do any others at the moment.
September 25, 2017
That does sound challenging! When my kids were at primary and I was working, my parents would just go down to pick them up later or they would go along to after school club later, as it was on the school grounds. Life is a lot more complicated now they’re all at secondary.
September 25, 2017
Three kids at three schools? how did you cope? Quite understand the limit of one after school activity for your daughter. it’s too much for the kid as well as mum and dad I think. Here’s hoping your school year gets easier!
September 26, 2017
Three kids at three schools wasn’t easy at all! I’m hoping the two schools will eventually turn out to be easier. My daughter does dance lessons four days a week, plus Scouts one day a week, so can only do one school-related activity on top of that!
September 25, 2017
We seem to have apps for everything at our school which makes it a bit easier. It does sound like a lot of juggling for you and September is always a bit more crazy isn’t it? I hope it all settles for you x
September 26, 2017
Thanks very much! It does help that my daughter isn’t so keen on hockey after all, so hopefully I won’t have that challenge! We’ve now got online payments for school trips at least, but not the school dinners yet! x
September 26, 2017
Ahhh logistical nightmare’s continue!! Love this glimpse into your life that mirrors my own in so many ways! Isn’t sixth form really expensive?! I seem to be writing out cheques and handing out cash all the time at the moment! xx
September 30, 2017
It’s good to hear we’re all going through the same! Strangely I haven’t found 6th form expensive yet! Although my son has been talking about a trip to Washington… The expensive one seems to be my younger son.
September 26, 2017
Hope it settles down soon so you can get into the swing of things. If you ever get stuck, you can always give me a call and I will happily go and pick one of them up for you. I’m nearby and always around. xx
September 30, 2017
Thanks very much, that’s such a lovely thing to say! I really appreciate it. x
September 26, 2017
Oh dear, gosh your life is hectic isn’t it?? And I know the struggles of fitting in work on top of everything else. I do hope it gets easier.
Nat.x
September 30, 2017
Yep, my life is really hectic! Every time I think it can’t get any worse something else comes along! There’s a reason why I only work when the kids are at school! x
October 2, 2017
I felt exactly the same! It is madness trying to get everything sorted and those endless letters and bills to pay!! This week there have been three lots of school photos to order and more clubs to pay for. It goes on and on and as for the after school stuff, I am worn out with it and looking forward to half term for a week off!
October 3, 2017
Hope it gets better. The after-school activities side of things is such a juggle. The whole non online payment thing drives me nuts. I hate having to find so much change x