Writings by me

The school run. Merely mentioning the phrase brings me out in a cold sweat.

Once we are out it’s great – the fresh air, saying hello to other parents and generally being out of the house is clearly highly effective at blowing off the cobwebs and making me feel slightly more productive before 9am.

But those dreaded ten minutes where we put our jackets and shoes on, scramble around for backpacks, reins, handbags, snacks, water bottles etc, have often been the sole reason why, pre-school run life, you might have found us in our pyjamas at lunchtime. I just couldn’t face those ten minutes.

This week however, we cracked it. The solution? Drum roll please… the song challenge.

The challenge: Freddie and Harry to be totally ready to leave before the song is over.

The song: ‘Wheel in the Sky’ by Journey (one of Harry’s faves)

The verdict: They did it! With laughter, dancing and singing to boot.

It totally worked. Instead of shouting at the kids as per usual, we left the house laughing, happy and ready for the day.

The internal parenting joy at finally finding a way that works and something so seemingly mundane and simple too, is priceless.

I knew I loved Journey for more than just dancing in the student union to ‘Don’t Stop Believin.’