How do you do busy days with kids?

My boys have busy schedules this year between school, soccer and Hebrew school and basketball.
I figured to prep some easy meals early in the week and we can get at least one family night too.
DH is also coaching my youger DS's soccer.
Anyway, Wednesdays are now packed for my 4th grader.
He gets home after 3, has to be at Hebrew school 4:30 - 6:30 and then soccer practice from 6:30 - 8PM.
I figured HW when he gets home with a snack then off to Hebrew. I will have a snack for him there packed. Figured DH can give him something quick in the car from Hebrew to soccer practice while he also gets his cleats and everything on.
Ugh! How do people do these schedules?! LOL!

Re: How do you do busy days with kids?

My last year was running, running, running. So this year I'm delegating chauffeuring and cutting back on activities. DS was on board with cutting and I'm so glad. We were burnt out by the end of last school year.

Some things that made last year (and this) work better for our house is planning like crazy on Sundays.

Sunday I layout outfits for the week and line them up in the kids' rooms. If a sports uniform is needed on a certain day it goes in that pile. That way if I'm not home everyone knows what's being worn when.

Also, bags are packed. Separate tote bags for everything, school, religion, baseball, cub scouts. All equipment, water bottle, books, etc in their place.

Lastly, food prep. I pack all snacks on Sundays. The kids enjoy buying lunch each day and it gives me a break. I pack my own lunches for the week and organize food for dinners each night.

Sure, most of my Sunday is gone to planning but it makes the week nights go much smoother. At the end of a week night the last thing I want to think about is planning for the next day. This way everything is ready.

Re: How do you do busy days with kids?

We now eat like we are 100 years old at 4:30-5pm, depending on when practice is that night. Luckily my older 2 are starving at that time anyway since they just came home from school at 4:10. But they are doing homework as I’m cooking and when they are eating I’m checking homework. I then pack snacks that they eat on the way home ((or at practice for other siblings)) so that as soon as we get home, they are showering. I try to pack dinner for DH and I, bc we usually have to meet up somewhere so I can hand off kid(s) to him and we split up depending who is coaching that night. When I coach, I don’t eat till the kids are in bed.

I also always have all their crap out and ready for them to change into, and water jugs are already done in the fridge.

I make good use of my crock pot, and instant pot. The instant pot can literally cook frozen chicken from start to finish in 15 mins or pasta in 2-3 mins.