{"id":25873,"date":"2025-08-27T06:02:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T06:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/25873\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T06:02:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T06:02:08","slug":"cork-mums-share-their-back-to-school-hacks-and-routines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/25873\/","title":{"rendered":"Cork mums share their back to school hacks and routines\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"contextmenu caption\">Orla McAndrew, event caterer<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Summer is her busiest time of the year, but this year, wedding and event caterer Orla McAndrew took a month off to spend with her three daughters in France.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">She made that conscious decision last year, made it happen this summer, and said it was \u2018amazing\u2019 \u2013 now she hopes to do it every year, or as often as she can.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Her eldest daughter is starting secondary school, and the others are starting in fourth and senior infants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cDuring the year I\u2019m really a stay-at-home mum who has a job, and summer is when I\u2019ve most happening, but having established my business, it\u2019s about understanding that it\u2019s not going to go anywhere if I take this time out, and there\u2019s real freedom in that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/4756733_3_articleinline_AQ2A2506-Edit_20copy_202.jpg\" alt=\"Orla takes time out to batch cook so there is always something there for dinner.\" title=\"Orla takes time out to batch cook so there is always something there for dinner.\" class=\"card-img\"\/>Orla takes time out to batch cook so there is always something there for dinner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cHonestly, I wish it were summer holidays all the time as I love having the girls around, and seeing their bond grow when they spend time together, so I don\u2019t really like September that much, but I don\u2019t dread it either,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Admitting that she\u2019s not the most structured person, Orla has a few \u2018go to\u2019 habits that help restore routine in her household.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\n            \u201cI will always batch cook at the end of August, and start throwing a rake of stuff into the freezer like home-made goujons, pesto, lasagne, veggie packed tomato sauce, humous sausage rolls, that kind of thing, so that if we get busy, or more like when we get busy, I can get good food on the table and fast,\u201d she said, adding that her book Larder is a source of inspiration.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI tend to spend a day batch cooking, feel the pain all at once, and just get it done,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">For lunch boxes, she gets inspiration from Lou Robbie and her new cookbook  Make And Freeze.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cWe might have mini scones, flap jacks, etc, but that\u2019s not to say it\u2019s all home-baked stuff, they can be quite random a lot of the time too!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">She also limits the amount of after-school activities her kids do, so there\u2019s space for them to be bored.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cWe value home time, and being bored, and because of that, they\u2019re never really bored!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Orla, as much as possible, will also get up a little earlier than the rest of the household to get a step ahead on school mornings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cAs an adult, you set the tone, so if you can maintain calm yourself, it will help everyone else,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cAs trite as it sounds though, I think fun doesn\u2019t have to end just because the holidays do. My core value is being the girls\u2019 mum and obviously it\u2019s not all sunshine and roses, but it\u2019s about enjoying every opportunity with them throughout the year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu caption\">Dr Doireann O\u2019 Leary, GP<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Well-known Cork GP Dr Doireann O\u2019Leary was set for a major change to hit their household this September, but had a last-minute change of heart.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cWe had our two-year-old boy all signed up to start playschool and were ready to release him into the world, but then we decided, actually no, we\u2019re not ready for it! We figured he\u2019ll be in the rat race for the rest of his life so we\u2019ve pushed it out for another year,\u201d said Doireann.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/4756736_3_articleinline_Dr_20Doireann_20Headshot_202_20_1_.jpg\" alt=\"Doireann says it\u2019s important to continue to get outside once autumn comes.\" title=\"Doireann says it\u2019s important to continue to get outside once autumn comes.\" class=\"card-img\"\/>Doireann says it\u2019s important to continue to get outside once autumn comes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">She\u2019s also mum to a one-year-old and said she feels lucky not to be part of the morning rush, just yet, and she\u2019s going to savour it for as long as she can.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cWe\u2019re going to enjoy that freedom for another while and enjoy our lovely toddler bubble!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">That means September routine isn\u2019t going to be a whole lot different to their summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cWe\u2019re probably a bit more chilled out over the summer and, among other things have been touring all of Cork\u2019s playgrounds! I can really recommend the playground at Murphy\u2019s Farm in Bishopstown and also Leahy\u2019s Farm, which we visited for the first time recently!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Doireann is a huge advocate for the benefits of being outdoors \u2013 something she talks a lot about on her popular socials \u2013 and it\u2019s an important part of family life too, all year round.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\n            \u201cI don\u2019t think that has to stop, once summer is over, and I\u2019d urge others to keep it up too. All the kids need is a pair of wellies and a raincoat and bad weather doesn\u2019t have to hinder you too much,\u201d she said.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">And while September is a month that lots of people dread, it\u2019s actually Doireann\u2019s favourite.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI love that time of year, it feels so exciting to be facing into autumn, and dare I say it, Christmas! We\u2019ve a big family wedding coming up too and our eldest is page boy so there\u2019s a lot to look forward to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">For other households who are gearing up for the inevitable September reset, her advice for staying happy and healthy coming into autumn\/winter is this:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"listnumber\">\n<li>Continue to get exercise and get outdoors when possible. I know it\u2019s hard but getting outdoors and moving is so good for our physical and mental health. We always feel the better for it.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s a boring one, but hand hygiene is really key this time of year when back to school hits and bugs start circulating. One of the best ways we can stay healthy is by frequent handwashing, particularly before eating.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s recommended that everybody takes vitamin D between Halloween and St Patrick\u2019s Day; it is the sunshine vitamin and we definitely don\u2019t see a lot of it during winter in Ireland!<\/li>\n<li>Stay connected with family and friends despite the busier schedule, even if it\u2019s just by phone or a quick coffee. Connection to our family and community is key to healthy, happy living and longevity.<\/li>\n<li>The best thing we can do for a good night\u2019s sleep is actually to have a routine, getting up at the same time every day, and going to bed at the same time every night. Good sleep is key for our physical and mental health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"contextmenu caption\">Maeve Dennehy, Love Cherish<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Whether it\u2019s the summer holidays, or the school year, businesswoman Maeve Dennehy accepts she\u2019ll always be playing catch-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">But she doesn\u2019t mind \u2013 in fact, it\u2019s what gives her the flexibility to drop her two children (aged six and seven) to school in the morning, and step out of her business, when she\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI\u2019ve accepted that this is the way it will be, that I\u2019m never entirely off, but that there\u2019s great freedom in that too,\u201d said Maeve, who owns Love Cherish boutique in Charleville where she has a team of 18.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/4756739_3_articleinline_ohmolly-1075.jpg\" alt=\"Maeve Dennehy says her family limit after-school activities.\" title=\"Maeve Dennehy says her family limit after-school activities.\" class=\"card-img\"\/>Maeve Dennehy says her family limit after-school activities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Herself and her husband Stephen, who live in Ballyhea, navigated childcare over the summer with the help of Stephen\u2019s mum, which Maeve said was invaluable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI worked hard when I had to and then focused on the luxury of being able to take time \u2018off\u2019 too. The children have grown up seeing me work, and we constantly have conversations with them about that, and how I need to travel for work, and so does Stephen, which I think is important, and they get it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">She doesn\u2019t mind the thoughts of \u2018back to school,\u2019 and actively avoids making a \u2018thing\u2019 of it at home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\n            \u201cI think if we make it a big thing, build it up, then it will become a big thing, and it\u2019s where they\u2019ll be spending the next 10 years, so it shouldn\u2019t be something to be dreaded!\u201d she said.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cWhen school starts again, it\u2019s just another day. If I end up in a tizzy, then so will they, and that\u2019s unfair on them. My feeling is that if we forget a Pritt Stick or a folder, then we\u2019ll have it the next day. It\u2019s not really going to matter in the long term,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Stephen is head-chef and in charge of dinners in their household, and Maeve is in charge of getting everyone out the door on time in the morning \u2013 everyone plays to their strength.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI have the uniforms on the couch the night before, along with the hairbrush and the bags by the door. My house doesn\u2019t look pretty but these are the little steps that make things easier for us!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">One thing that potentially can lead to overwhelm though is after-school activities, and too many of them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI find if we\u2019re rushing around going to too many places and trying to fit in homework, it\u2019s just not worth it. We talk to the kids and explain how they can just pick one or two that they enjoy, and they get that \u2013 children are smart!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">In general, Maeve doesn\u2019t sweat the small stuff, probably because she has faced some significant difficulties in her life, including losing her sister and mother to cancer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cHonestly, if the kids are happy, I\u2019m happy, and vice versa, it\u2019s a roundabout effect. I just remind myself how lucky I am that I\u2019ve two healthy kids, who go to a great school, in a great community, it\u2019s really as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu caption\">Hazel Buckley, The Yoga Tree<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Every year I try to get the kids to bed earlier before school starts\u2026 every year it fails, so I\u2019ve stopped fighting it, besides, the routine comes back fast enough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">So says mum-of-three Hazel Buckley of The Yoga Tree, whose eldest child is starting secondary school this year, which means, she says, a new dynamic to figure out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI have been using the last bit of summer to get a bit more organised and make life easier,\u201d said Hazel.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/4756742_3_articleinline_ECHO_20FEATURES_20WoW_20Hazel_20Buckley_20Yoga.jpg\" alt=\"Hazel Buckley says she makes an effort to schedule in \u2018me time\u2019 in her calendar\" title=\"Hazel Buckley says she makes an effort to schedule in \u2018me time\u2019 in her calendar\" class=\"card-img\"\/>Hazel Buckley says she makes an effort to schedule in \u2018me time\u2019 in her calendar<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cSummer for me is all about West Cork, where we have a summer house \u2014 and I feel ridiculously lucky to get to teach yoga on Barleycove Beach, which is honestly one of the most stunning places in the world. Being self-employed has its ups and downs (more ups, thankfully).<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI try to keep summer a little quieter work-wise so I can soak it up with the kids \u2013 Tadhg (13), Daisy (11) and Bobby (7) \u2013 but I still use the time to plan ahead and create content for my app. The juggle is real! I tend to do my work early in the morning or later in the evening, and the rest of the day is for beach swims, ice creams, and general chaos!<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\n            \u201cMy husband works away a lot, life is chaotic at times, and the house can be absolute madness. But I\u2019m doing my best, and I don\u2019t think we should be too hard on ourselves. When we look back, will we really say, \u2018Thank goodness the house was always tidy\u2019 or will we be glad we did our best and made some brilliant memories along the way?\u201d Exactly!\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">With the return to school, Douglas-based Hazel has some fall-back habits to make the household run smoother until it finds its new rhythm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cI go back to my home delivery shop and plan dinners for the week, and I let the kids choose what\u2019s for dinner on their first day back \u2014 it gets them involved and looking forward to something. We also get everything ready the night before. For us, matching socks is the main morning drama, so they\u2019re always sorted the night before! I also think it helps to know your kids\u2019 timings \u2014 one of mine is slower to get moving, so I wake them up first, and as often as we can, we walk the 40 minutes to school with our dog Noodle. We chat, sort out any worries, and everyone arrives in better form.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">As a yoga instructor, Hazel points to the breath as a simple but powerful tool \u2014 for kids and for parents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">\u201cBack-to-school can bring up a lot of nerves, so I always come back to slowing the breath down. The trick is to make your exhale longer than your inhale \u2014 in for four, out for six. For kids, I make it fun, like pretending to blow out a candle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"contextmenu Body Body\">Finally, Hazel lives by her Google Calendar: \u201cEven \u2018me time\u2019 is scheduled. Whether that\u2019s a walk, a yoga class, or a coffee with a friend, it\u2019s non-negotiable. A calmer mum is a better mum.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Orla McAndrew, event caterer Summer is her busiest time of the year, but this year, wedding and event&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25874,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[18,1652,19,17,82,8073],"class_list":{"0":"post-25873","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-eire","9":"tag-family","10":"tag-ie","11":"tag-ireland","12":"tag-technology","13":"tag-wow"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25873"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25873\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}