How to handle 4 kids in 4 different schools

By now, kids across the country are back to school. My kids have been back for several weeks now, and it’s been interesting having four kids in four different schools.

Of course, this was really my doing. When you spread out having kids across nine years, you really get what you get. No complaints here!

Things have always been crazy, with the kids all in extracurricular activities both at school and in other programs. I’ve always made it work and this year is no exception. But this year, I’ve really taken ownership of the chaos in an effort to keep it to a minimum.

For starters, it really helps that Jack has his license and a car and can shuttle himself (and sometimes his siblings) around. That’s been a huge help!

But there’s also all of the school-related activities to consider, the ones that require a parent. We’re talking supply shopping, meet the teacher nights, curriculum nights, etc. Here’s how I’m surviving the chaos:

• I added links to all my children’s school calendars on the home screen of my phone. If there’s ever a question about early release or late start times, days off or other events, I can pull up each calendar quickly.
• I added important dates for each school to my planner so I don’t double-book myself.
• Thankfully, the first week of school was a bit staggered with each child starting on a different day. That helped a ton!
• We staggered back to school shopping–both for supplies and for clothes. This helped me budget a bit more and kept me from being pulled in multiple directions. Two kids have uniforms, one has a written dress code and the fourth has a bit more freedom. And of course, they all have their own tastes and store preferences.

Of course, I’m also running a tighter ship this year. I’ve found that the busier you are the more time you need to put into organizing. I’ve made sure I’m on all the schools’ email lists and am getting all the information possible.

Communication is a huge part of the puzzle too–with each child, my husband, the other carpool families, everyone. Especially when I’m supposed to be at three places at once. (I mean, I just about have two places at once mastered and now I’m supposed to up my game again!?)

I’ve also had to broaden my circle a bit and be okay with asking for help. Charlie’s school is furthest away, but it also has the most flexible after-school options available. He can work on homework while waiting for a ride if carpooling isn’t available that day.

So far, this new, more structured year is working for us. Everyone is in the school and activities that’s best suited for them and everyone is happy. The goal now is to keep the organization going so the next 8 months continue to run smoothly.