A guest post today, that after reading, I almost did a skip thinking that the next six weeks, I am hopefully going to have very little of, as the pace slows down and the holidays begin.
Getting to work on time and looking half way presentable can be a struggle at the best of times, but when you’ve got a gaggle of kids to dispatch to nursery, school or both before you can even think about starting your own commute, you’ve really got your work cut out and you’d be forgiven for feeling like you’ve already put in half a day’s hard graft by 9am. It’ll never be easy, but here’s how to make life as a working mum run just a little bit more smoothly.
Brainy Breakfasts
We all know that breakfast is a crucial meal when it comes to setting up the kids for the day ahead, but getting everyone fed and watered on time can be an early morning nightmare. If you’re paying nursery fees, it’s a no brainer to let your little treasure eat at her leisure after she’s been dropped off. If your kids’ school has a breakfast club, the fee can be well worth it when it comes to restoring sanity in the morning. If not, set out the plates and bowls before you go to bed and make sure you’ve got milk, bread and all the necessary cereals at the ready. And if the worst comes to the worst, they can always finish their toast on the school run.
Well Dressed
Whether you’ve got a sleep-loving teenager who needs to be practically hauled out of bed twenty minutes before you need to leave, a baby whose body clock is set to need a nappy change every time you pick up the house keys, or an energetic five-year-old who never seems to have their shoes on when it’s time to get out the door, despite getting up at 6am, getting them out, looking smart and with all the necessary bags, kits and forms is a daunting task. Get older kids to help the younger ones, and if the little ones need a bit of encouragement, try a reward chart for getting themselves properly dressed when they’re told to.
You Time
Yes, the kids need sorting out but so do you! On work days, elaborate hair and make-up routines are your enemy. You can easily go as low maintenance as is appropriate for your job without compromising on your appearance. Try an easy-to-apply BB cream instead of a foundation and, when it comes to blow dries, invest in a heating styling brush for super quick salon results. When it comes to clothes, if you don’t wear a uniform, keep your work look as easy as possible. In the summer, dresses teamed with a cardigan are a great option for early mornings when you can’t work out what goes with what. George has a great range of go-with-anything cardigans for women.
Life as a working mum certainly isn’t easy but it doesn’t have to have you tearing your hair out before you even get to your desk. And at least you know there’ll never be a dull moment!
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