Working f-time with kids -tips

Spendless

I have considered on-line shopping and if I was just going to the supermarket for us I would do it. The issue is my Grandmother, who comes with me very much sees it as a social outing- we usually call and get something to eat afterwards. Since a spell in hospital earlier this year she has struggled with mobility issues, and me taking her to the shops is frequently the only time she gets out of her flat. I am therefore reluctant to stop it, even for the few weeks I temp. I have given some thought to it though, and I think what I'll do is use the time before I start to make sure my freezer and cupboard is well stocked, this will allow me to go to a smaller type of supermarket, which won't take as long to get round and I'll perhaps suggest whoever isn't taking DD swimming instead takes Nan shopping the night before.

onlyroz

Regarding online delivery charges - you used to be able to get vouchers from e.g. myvouchercodes which would cover the delivery costs of a Tesco delivery. Haven't tried it in a while though so I'm not sure if this is still the case.

liney

Just thought of something else. Have a very visible calendar or wall planner in your kitchen. Tell the children 'If it isn't on the planner it isn't happening,' to ensure you get ample notice for school trips, competitions, sports events, plays, assemblies, I-need-a-costume-days, etc.

Mark out all the school holidays and PD days in advance along with the regular Birthdays, dentists etc so everyone knows what is going on.

tesuhoha

Spendless wrote: »

I have considered on-line shopping and if I was just going to the supermarket for us I would do it. The issue is my Grandmother, who comes with me very much sees it as a social outing- we usually call and get something to eat afterwards. Since a spell in hospital earlier this year she has struggled with mobility issues, and me taking her to the shops is frequently the only time she gets out of her flat. I am therefore reluctant to stop it, even for the few weeks I temp. I have given some thought to it though, and I think what I'll do is use the time before I start to make sure my freezer and cupboard is well stocked, this will allow me to go to a smaller type of supermarket, which won't take as long to get round and I'll perhaps suggest whoever isn't taking DD swimming instead takes Nan shopping the night before.

What you could do is get your own shopping delivered and then your Nan's shop will not take so long so you could make it more of a social occasion and give her more attention and help without having to worry about your own shop.

Oh and if you haven't already and have room, get yourself a dishwasher. Washing up takes up a lot more time. I have recently discovered this since my dishwasher packed up and I am the only one in the house that does any washing up.

Spendless

liney wrote: »

Just thought of something else. Have a very visible calendar or wall planner in your kitchen. Tell the children 'If it isn't on the planner it isn't happening,' to ensure you get ample notice for school trips, competitions, sports events, plays, assemblies, I-need-a-costume-days, etc.

Mark out all the school holidays and PD days in advance along with the regular Birthdays, dentists etc so everyone knows what is going on.

Ha, I have one! I get one every xmas as a pressie and it's not the kids who are a PITA about it, it's Mr S. He told me today that he was away o/n and he's told me several times already. I pointed out that it's such a frequent event him working away with no pattern that it no longer registers and I wanted it on the calendar. He has just told me about a night out though, so I'll make him put that on.

Re d/washer. My slimline one is broken and with no current room for a larger one and a kitchen that is likely to be replaced within the next 12-18 months to a new lay-out, I think it's something that I'm going to have to manage without sadly. It's only a few weeks temp work though so am sure we will manage.

Savvy_Sue

Spendless wrote: »

Re d/washer. My slimline one is broken and with no current room for a larger one and a kitchen that is likely to be replaced within the next 12-18 months to a new lay-out, I think it's something that I'm going to have to manage without sadly. It's only a few weeks temp work though so am sure we will manage.

Remember that your children are old enough to help with the washing up! And by 'help with' I mean 'do' ...

They can also sort clean clothes out - it's really easy for you because it's either Girl, Boy or Grown Up - and put their own away. I used to have to sort for my boys because apparently only I knew whose socks and pants were whose, but I left piles for them to put away. Or not.

Spendless

tesuhoha wrote: »

What you could do is get your own shopping delivered and then your Nan's shop will not take so long so you could make it more of a social occasion and give her more attention and help without having to worry about your own shop.

Unfortunately it wouldn't be like that. What would happen is Nan would spot me not buying anything and ask why, then she'd say she was being a burden to us and either not buy enough on that trip as she 'didn't need anything either' or she'd refuse to come on subsequent ones and then not eat. It's like when she comes away with us and refuses to let us hire a wheelchair as 'you don't want to spend your hol pushing me around' and can't see that actually it would make things easier for us. Her dementia means she can't follow a thought process thru. I liken it to telling a very young child to stop jumping in puddles and they understand the command but not the thought process behind it (because they're your best shoes, I've forgotten to fetch a change of clothes and haven't time to go back etc). Thanks for the suggestion though.

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Remember that your children are old enough to help with the washing up! And by 'help with' I mean 'do' ...

They can also sort clean clothes out - it's really easy for you because it's either Girl, Boy or Grown Up - and put their own away. I used to have to sort for my boys because apparently only I knew whose socks and pants were whose, but I left piles for them to put away. Or not.

Spendless

Having problems with keyboard and quoting but I think asking the kids to step in with chores that they haven't been previously doing is a fair enough one.

When I was a kid I hated that while mum washed I hate to dry AND put put away.:rotfl: Mr S hated that his sister used to throw stuff back into the w-up bowl as his job was washing and hers drying, so I think whichever adult doesn't cook tea, can wash, whilst 1 child drys and the other puts away dishes.

My mum with 2 girls got to the point where she didn't know whose underwear was whos, started taking hers out first, then ask me to take mine and what was left was my sisters to put away.

AlternateMe

I'm a single mum to a 2 year old, and I go to uni full time. I find it so hard juggling my time- part time job, nursery runs, placements. So I have no choice but to be super organised!

Every Sunday evening I...
-lay out five sets of clothes on top of chest of drawers including a nappy
-spend half an hour making a meal plan and doing an online shop
-go over my calender and make a paper version of the week so I know exactly what's what

And every night after he's in bed I....
-do the washing up and prepare my lunch for the next day. I also lay out my breakfast bits (cup/spoon/coffee, plate for toast, vitamins!)
-pack his nursery bag, open up the buggy, lay out his shoes and coat
-go upstairs and pack my own uni/placement bag

THEN I crash with a cuppa!! I have to do those things before otherwise it just doesn't work. I also wake up at 6am and have a shower/do my hair/have breakfast then wake him up at 7- it means I can take my time and not rush with him jumping all over me everywhere and we can be out of the door at 730 on the dot.

floss2

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Remember that your children are old enough to help with the washing up! And by 'help with' I mean 'do' ...

They can also sort clean clothes out - it's really easy for you because it's either Girl, Boy or Grown Up - and put their own away. I used to have to sort for my boys because apparently only I knew whose socks and pants were whose, but I left piles for them to put away. Or not.

I can remember me & my 2 bigger brothers doing the dishes when I was at primary school - 1 would wash, 1 dry & one put away on a rotation system, week nights only.

Also, when my teenagers were wearing the same size in undies & socks I would distinguish by one wearing only black & the other having colours