Bringing Up Brits » nativity http://www.bringingupbrits.co.uk Expat Parents Raising Cross-Cultural Kids in Britain by Meghan Peterson Fenn Thu, 28 Jul 2016 09:11:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.9 Shepherds, fayres and Christmas cakes – Oh my! http://www.bringingupbrits.co.uk/shepherds-fayres-and-christmas-cakes-oh-my http://www.bringingupbrits.co.uk/shepherds-fayres-and-christmas-cakes-oh-my#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:55:53 +0000 http://www.bringingupbrits.co.uk/blog/?p=6561 Good luck to those who have young children in UK schools! Christmas madness all starts this week and if you’re like me with three children in three different schools, then your calendar will be jam packed. My top tip for keeping track of where and when you’re supposed to be for each child at each […]

The post Shepherds, fayres and Christmas cakes – Oh my! appeared first on Bringing Up Brits.

]]> Good luck to those who have young children in UK schools! Christmas madness all starts this week and if you’re like me with three children in three different schools, then your calendar will be jam packed. My top tip for keeping track of where and when you’re supposed to be for each child at each school and when and where you’re supposed to be for helping out and volunteering at each school’s Christmas fayre and which days are mufti, which days are Xmas jumper days and which days are party days is to make use of your tech. Input all dates and descriptions into your phone. Set alerts so that when you’re working, you don’t have to clock watch.

A few other tips: Pre-bake cakes for fayres (or cheat and buy pre-made cupcakes) and stick them in the freezer, then decorate them the morning of or the evening before. Get tombola gifts, teacher gifts and cards all in one go and get them ready so there’s no last minute panic buy. My daughter is having a WWII dress up day and party which the parents are invited to. This past weekend we organised her costume so she’ll be ready on the day.

It’s crazy time for me with work so I have to stay on top of all the school stuff, otherwise I’ll just go into meltdown. This past weekend was spent inputting all dates into my iphone along with work deadlines, client meetings and work Christmas meals and meet-ups. We also started our Christmas shopping and got the cards for the kids to give to their friends. My eldest refuses to do Christmas cards for his teachers this year (I guess it’s uncool at his age?) so I’ve only got six teachers and 90 kids to buy for which makes it a little less manic. I also got my work Secret Santa gift sorted out for next week. I must admit, I had a tiny panic last night when I was looking at my fridge at all the school notices and slips of paper. I manage it much better when it’s all scheduled on my iphone calendar. Still, there’s no guarantee I won’t mess up!

xmasfridge

Really looking forward to my youngest child’s nativity – he’s very excited and has told me he’s a shepherd. I think out of all my children, he’s been the one who is most excited about being in a nativity.

Hope these little hints and tips help to keep your school run-up-to Christmas madness in check! Any other hints and tips, please post in the comments below.

******************
Meghan Peterson Fenn is the author of Bringing Up Brits and co-author of Inspiring Global Entrepreneurs with Heidi Mulligan Walker. Meghan is also the Director and Chief Designer at her own design company, White Ochre Design Ltd. And, she is an award winning expat blogger.

The post Shepherds, fayres and Christmas cakes – Oh my! appeared first on Bringing Up Brits.

]]> http://www.bringingupbrits.co.uk/shepherds-fayres-and-christmas-cakes-oh-my/feed 0