By this time I believe most of y’all with school aged children have sent them off.  So happy back to school!!  Or almost for those that still have a bit more time.

Earlier this week I shared via stories about how I made a dedicated email account for the boys from their school.  This email is where every email from school lives – from newsletters from teachers, volunteer info, to birthday party invites.  It has been really helpful the last couple years to have a spot where everything is, and I’m not sifting through work/life/school emails to find out about a pick up change, etc..  I use gmail so it’s all in one spot, just different tabs.  It works for us!

I wanted to share a few other things I do to keep us on track during the school year.  and like I said above, it works for us.  Or is working currently.  So with everything, take it or leave this advice – or reapply it to a way that works for your family.

• As for Volunteering at school… You can do it all, but not all at once.  That adage is something I remind myself ALL OF THE TIME.  Not just with school!  At the beginning of the year I come in ready to do it all, and be it all.  I can’t.  Pick and choose.  Give it a few weeks time to see what will work for you and what you’ll actually enjoy doing.  Don’t compare someone else’s easy to your hard or vice versa.  And know your limits!  Speaking from experience here (;
• Have a running list of what works for snack/lunches.  I check every day to see what they actually ate, and mentally note it.  I am always trying to put fresh fruits and veggies, plus some carb or protein.  But it can change as to what they like… so I like to try something new every once in a while and check in on how they liked it.
• This may apply to more boy moms, but it can for girls too.  I have a little busy crate in my car with fidget spinners, stress balls, and hand grips.  Keeps them busy and gives them a minute after school.
• Speaking of after school – I always have a snack ready.  They’re starving!
• If I’m really in the weeds, I’ll send our laundry out.  I mentioned this on the podcast.  I actually don’t mind doing laundry at all, but I stay consistent with doing at least a load every morning.  But travel, work, life, sometimes throws that off.  And when it does, it’s been great to treat myself to some laundry all done for us!!
• Meal plan.  I love to sit down on Sunday afternoons and figure out what we will have for the week.  I either do a pick up with amazon at Whole Foods, or Shipt.  I’m pretty scatter brained so I’ve found that this really helps me get what I need, with little to no impulse buys.  And it also gets me everything to make the meals I want.  Sets us up for the week!
• Speaking of meals, I roast a chicken and veggies at least once a week.  Everyone in my family loves this, so it’s a no brainer.  This is a meal that is so easy, and I can slow roast it.  Throw it in before I pick the kids up, and it’s ready for dinner by 5.  With minimal effort.  I love doing this when we have a busy schedule after school.
• We have uniforms, so it’s pretty much on autopilot as far as clothes go in the morning.  But we still have it all out the night before with underwear/belt/shirt/shorts/socks/shoes.

Just a few things that have helped us the last couple years!