Organised Parent or Relaxed and Wild?

How organised a parent are you? A conversation amongst some other parents today made me wonder. By nature I'm a laid back hippy kind of person, stuff happens, I worry about it when it does and I live a lot of my life unplanned and just thinking 'what's the worst that can happen?'

When Dd was a baby I breastfed and so I was able to leave the house without a range of baby things, just a folding change mat and a spare nappy (not for a trip lasting less than an hour) and maybe a small pack of baby wipes. As DD got older I had to stash potties around the house and took one in the car, but I always forgot snacks (boobs were hard to forget you see!) and drinks, so I often had to buy them out.

*shrug* but whats the worst that can happen?

What's the worst that can happen?

 My husband is totally the opposite, he likes to plan everything for the whole day with timings and disaster plans and plan b's and plan c's in case plan b fails. (this may explain why I love festivals and camping and he doesn't)

When DD started school we started using the calendar a lot more to mark everything from parent teacher meetings to dentist check ups to picnic dates with friends. But DH ever the organised one still feared we might miss something so we also have a whiteboard in the kitchen to write down everything that is happening in the week. We consult the calendar on a Sunday and fill it in.

Mr TM - taking control of the ship

We add what everyone is doing so that adding in new things can be planned around events already booked. For example, on an average week the planner will have DD's music lessons, after school clubs, days she is out with friends, the car MOT, a Drs appt, a reminder to put the bins out, dates homework is due in (by subject), library books due back, an inset day, a half day I've booked as annual leave, a day I'll be late home due to a meeting etc etc

And I confess it does help! We rarely miss things, or double book. Forms are sent in on time for school and we don't get library book fines.

My husband is a SAHD so this also means fabulous home planning! Shopping done, washing all sorted, school uniform washed and dried and ready for Monday, lawns mowed...

But are we over organised? I think I'm starting to feel weird, like the dreaded 'perfect parent' that the internet sneers so hard at. And I can't even take the credit really! It's all down to DH and his planning skills. Maybe because I have to be organised at work I tend to be less organised at home (I doubt it, I think it's just me)

So tell me - are we over planning? Are you already vomiting into a bowl? Do you plan things? Or are you a chaotic house of lost shoes and missing school bags (no judgement, what ever works for you!) I'd love to know, please add a comment below.

And no, you can't have him, I saw him first.

we interrupt your usual blog for a message from a sponsor..

I do reviews, not too many I hope, but I do them. I only review products I use or would use. So was quite pleased to be asked to try Ecover Zero. I already use Ecover non-biological washing liquid, but this was new, no colour, no scent (yes @mamacrow NO SCENT!) no additives, just a basic, kind to the environment, kind to skin, range of clothes washing liquid and, amazingly, fabric conditioner.

I was also sent a dish washing liquid to try in the same, colour-free, scent-free range. We do not have a dish washer (except me) so that was put straight to work. Very foamy, cleaned grease very well and DD noticed the difference from our usual liquid on the first day.

"Mum, this glass is really clean, we never have clean glasses" (*ahem* obviously we always have clean glasses but she meant that it was streak free)

So I'm fairly sold on the dish washing liquid, I love the lack of smell left on the dishes and the lack of stupid colour (why is washing up liquid the colour of methadone btw?)

But for clothes washing reviews we must ask my darling husband, yes ladies, I realise you are jealous but in our house the lovely Mr Tattooed Mummy does the housework, including the washing.

So I asked him for a verdict. He was a little surprised about a clothes conditioner with no smell, "it's the smell I like" he said, but the washing came out clean, fresh (no 'artificial' 'air freshener' type smell) and the clothes don't feel scratchy (we have no tumble dryer so they are line dried) So I think that's a result. He is happy to use it again as he doesn't like biological liquids, both he and DD have delicate skin.


If you have an aversion to artificial smells, if you like the environment, if you have sensitive skin, then EcoverZero might be just what you are looking  for. And if you spill it, it doesn't leave green/blue stains all over the kitchen.

• Looks 9/10 
• Value For money 8/10 
• Usability/Usefulness 10/10 
• Fun 6/10