A working mum's field notes from the trenches
School holidays have a way of arriving just as the work calendar gets louder. I work from home, so I know the particular joy of answering emails while someone asks for a snack they could absolutely reach themselves.
When work still needs doing and the kids are home, a few small systems buy back some time, some headspace and, if we're lucky, a hot coffee we actually get to drink hot. Here are the five I come back to.
1. The activity box swap system
Instead of putting every toy, game and craft supply in front of the kids at once, split what you already own into three or four boxes or tubs and rotate them every couple of days.
Nothing new has to go in. It just needs to be out of sight for long enough to feel new again. Or here's another hack if your kids are small - when the kids get an onslaught of presents for their birthday or Christmas, I put some away and bring out something new each school holiday. They've forgotten all about it, so it's like getting something new.
One tub could be drawing and stickers, another can be building, and another can be puzzles or small-world play. It gives the kids a fresh starting point to inspire their play, and it makes the end-of-day pack-up much less overwhelming. I like these ones from Amazon.
2. One bag, fully packed, always ready
The biggest time-saver in the holidays is having a permanently packed go-bag by the door, for the family outing days or grandparent takeovers. Snacks, sunscreen, water bottles, a spare outfit, wipes, chargers, umbrella and whatever small emergency item your family always seems to need, done once and ready to go.
When I'm kid wrangling, I use the Everyday Tote Bag because it keeps me hands-free, with a place for the bits I’d otherwise be digging for while someone’s already waiting at the door.
3. Make screen time a proper quiet block
I stopped feeling guilty about screen time and started being strategic about it instead. A planned 60-minute quiet block after lunch gives everyone a reset, including me. Setting a timer on your phone and letting the kids push the start buttons, makes the 'times up' tantrums less challenging (sometimes).
Use the time deliberately: answer the urgent emails, have a shower without an audience, eat something sitting down or simply stare at the wall for ten minutes. A quiet block works best when it is predictable, not something you negotiate from scratch every day. The kids know when it is coming, and you get a small piece of the day back.
4. Outsource the boredom to a kit, not to you
Some of my best holiday wins have come from activities that are ready to use: reusable sticker books, scratch-art sets, colouring projects, board games or a craft kit with everything included.
I keep a stash tucked away for the moments when I need a little independent play without becoming the activity director. The trick is not bringing it all out at once. One option at a time feels special, lasts longer and creates far less mess.
I use the Bag Buddy Pouch Set - Colour Gingham for the little things, so I can see what I have and find it without tipping the whole bag onto the floor. The goal is not to become more organised overnight. It is to remove one tiny decision from each day.
5. Protect one half-hour that is just yours
This is the one that keeps me sane, not just organised. Every day, holidays or not, I try to protect one 30-minute window that belongs to me: a walk, a coffee outside the house, a chapter of a book or simply sitting somewhere no one is asking me to find a missing water bottle.
When I can, I make it an out-of-the-house reset. I reach for the Slouchy Crescent Crossbody to keep my essentials together and ready to grab. It's one less small thing to sort when I am trying to get out the door.
School holidays do not need to be perfectly planned to be manageable. A few repeatable systems, a little less guilt and one small pocket of time for yourself can make the whole stretch feel lighter. The aim is not to do it all beautifully. It is to make the next hour easier.
Here’s to fewer ‘where is it?’ moments, a bit more breathing room and, ideally, drinking the coffee while it’s still hot.
- Emily (Head of Marketing)
