I always try to fit as much in as possible on my weekends, but not too much that you are run ragged with the children. That’s why we have come up with a few tips and tricks for making the most out of your precious Saturdays and Sundays.

1. Ensure your little ones are fed before you set out. I even do this if we are going for brunch, as between traffic, waiting times and the inevitable nappy stop, it could be AGES before their little tummies are fed  – and we all know that a hungry child is a loose cannon when it comes to public places. Give them a rice cake or a banana before you go anywhere. You will thank us!

2. Be prepared. If you are going to the farmers market, make sure you have rain jackets. If you are heading to the cinema, bring a truckload of those baby wipes. You can NEVER be prepared enough as a mum, and no matter how amazing daddy is, they will usually not think ahead in the same way we do.

3. Naps happen. Just accept it. Even though the toddler will not go down if he falls asleep at 5 pm after the Zoo, relish those 15 minutes of silence instead of stressing about trying to wake them. Another form of Murphy’s law is that when you want them to sleep, they won’t and when you don’t want them to sleep, they will.

4. Don’t be shy about packing the car with everything you may need. If you are lucky enough to have a car with a family-friendly boot, take advantage. I take wellies, prams, picnic baskets, cushions, scooters, helmets, coats and giant backpacks with everything we may need that day.

5. This one depends on how you feel about cooking. I try to take Saturday off cooking big meals and we usually get a treat takeaway or go out for an early dinner with the children. Sundays though, I do a bulk cook for the week. I find it relaxing and enjoyable to get ahead of myself. I have fun planning the meals and the children love to help. A simple meal plan for the week ahead actually helps a great deal, even if you don’t want to cook in advance.

6. Sleep in. Read that paper. It is usually go, go, go all week long when you are a mum. We have family to visit at the weekends, birthday parties and feeds to work around. It can be very tiring especially after a busy week. My advice is to share the burden, take turns to snooze late and accept all the help you can get. It is important we don’t burn out. My therapy is Netflix and a cup of tea. Sometimes it’s the simple things that help the most.

7. Make jobs fun. Often there are jobs that can only happen on the weekends like cleaning out the car or organising the mountain of toys you have been shoving in the press all week. This doesn’t have to be a chore. Let the little ones muck in. You’d be surprised at how clean a one-year-old can get the outside of a car when bubbles are involved!

Enjoy that weekend mums – you deserve it!