Juggling back to school with multiple children
On my kids: middle school boys outfit: green top / black shorts / high school girls outfit: athelisure dress / sneakers / middle school girls outfit: blue tee / black running shorts / sneakers /
I have three kids, who attend three different schools. This means multiple start times, multiple end times, and driving all over town! I am definitely a “Mom Taxi!” Ha ha! In order to ensure I can get all the kids to school on time, I need to plan ahead.
The first thing we did to prepare for back to school was to get the kids’ wardrobes in order. I don’t like to buy too much before the first day of school, because when the kids go back, they always realize they need specific items for their closets. I try to stick to buying the basics they need, and then purchase the ultimate IT items that are popular among the kids after they ask for these items. Here in our school district, adidas is the ultimate destination for IT items my kids need in their back to school wardrobes.
All of the girls in middle school and high school wear adidas superstar sneakers. They are the ultimate IT shoes for teen girls! The favorite color combo is black stripes, on a white shoe. You really cannot go back to school without those sneakers!
Another IT item for teenage girls is the adidas trefoil hoodie sweatshirt. Every teen girl needs this sweatshirt in her closet! Knowing these two items are must-have’s for teen girls, I ensured both of my teenage daughters have them clean and ready for the first day of school. Even if it’s 80 degrees outside on the first day of school, those sweatshirts will be worn-at least around the waist! Ha ha! A girl has to show she has the ultimate IT item on day one!
When it comes to boys, adidas is also a go-to brand! Boys are not as specific when it comes to clothing. They are more brand driven. My son is starting middle school this fall, so I made sure he was fully stocked with adidas shorts and tee’s. They are the ultimate sporty pieces a boy needs for middle school. My son is all set!
Once they have their wardrobes settled, I purchase the boring stuff such as binders, binder paper, pens, pencils, folders, etc. Then, I need to make sure I plan ahead for dropping my kids off all over town!
How to organize multiple drop-offs
The first thing I do to prepare my kids for school the next day is make their lunch. Then, I always make sure my kids have their backpacks packed before bedtime. This way they aren’t scrambling in the morning before school. In addition to packing their backpacks the night before, I make my kids pick out their outfit the night before too. This way the morning is spent washing up, getting dressed, and eating breakfast. I have a schedule to keep!
It’s important to pay attention to when the drop-off line at school gets busy in the morning. I always get to my children’s schools before the drop-off line gets long. This way I can quickly get through the line, and get over to the next school for drop-off without any delays. Once the drop-off line gets busy, anything could happen, and my schedule is bound to get thrown off!
I would say the rule of thumb is to drop off your child twenty minutes before the first bell. Most parents arrive roughly ten minutes before the first bell. That’s when the drop-off circle becomes a madhouse.
I drop off my kids in order of when the first bell rings. This means my high schooler is dropped off first, then my youngest, and lastly my middle child.
When it comes to pick-up after school, I use the opposite reasoning to pick-up my children. Parents start filling up the pick-up circle twenty-minutes before the bell. No way am I sitting in a long line, in a hot car, with my engine idling. I live five minutes from the high school, which is the first bell to ring. I leave the house five minutes after it rings, enabling me to arrive at the school with the line moving quickly. My car doesn’t idle, and I am able swiftly pick up my daughter. Love that!
This leaves ample time to swing over to my middle child’s school to pick her up, then drive quickly through the circle to pick up my son. Once you know the traffic patterns, you can figure out a system for picking up multiple kids, at multiple schools, without being late or leaving your engine idling in the hot sun.
It can be overwhelming to have multiple kids, in multiple schools. Don’t let it overwhelm you! Once you know the traffic patterns, you can easily beat the system, and make the pick-up/drop-off routine smooth and simple.
What are some of your tips for juggling multiple kids in multiple schools? Feel free to share in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Cathy
*thank you to adidas for sponsoring this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
