Mum of three boys
Gemma lives just outside Leeds with her husband Dan, three boys aged 10, 7 and 4, and a washing machine that has never known peace. She writes about the loud, muddy, brilliant business of raising sons.
Six and a half weeks, three boys, one mum still standing. My complete summer holiday survival system — rhythm, budget, boredom policy and the 4pm ceasefire.
Three boys, staggered bedtimes, one knackered mum. The bedtime routine that gets everyone down by eight — most nights — without the hour-long hostage talks.
The screen wars nearly broke me. The truce — rotas, screen-free zones and one weird rule about endings — that ended the daily battle with my three boys.
Three boys means three parties a year, every year, forever. How we throw birthdays the boys rave about for under £100 — venue, food, cake and party bags.
Fish finger teas, refereeing with a biscuit in hand, hiding in the loo for five minutes' peace. Ten guilts I've formally resigned from as a mum of three boys.
Football kit, PE bags, school jumpers, mud. The washing system that keeps three boys in clean(ish) clothes without me becoming a full-time laundress.
Under £20 for all five of us, or it doesn't make the list. The cheap UK days out my three boys genuinely rate — scored by the boys themselves.
Our lawn died years ago and I've stopped mourning it. Why I let my three boys get properly filthy, and how I keep the mud (mostly) out of the house.
Three boys, one remote control, endless wars. How I referee sibling fights without losing my mind — and the surprising rule that ended most of them.
Two schools, one nursery, three boys, 8.45am. The night-before system that turned our school run from a daily hostage crisis into something almost calm.
Three boys, five loaves of bread a week, one budget. The meal plan, batch cooking and shopping rules that keep our food bill under £70 — most weeks.
It rained for nine days straight and nobody died. Here are the rainy-day activities that genuinely work on my three boys — tested, rated, and mum-approved.
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