Back To School...

Bea Parry-Jones is a late thirty something mother of two. She’s author of hugely successful blog Dulwichmum, in which she documents her efforts to avoid absolute lunacy and remain on the right side of conscientious parenting. She and her husband spend a small fortune on private education, Baby Boden, Babybels and the au pairs gym membership.

Bea’s first novel “Sex Lies and Sellotape – confessions of a Dulwich mum” will be published in 2008.

As I sit here this evening, stitching little labels into small jumpers and tiny shirts, I suspect that I resemble a character from that favourite fairytale - The Elves and the shoemaker (a very glamorous and impeccably well groomed character, clearly).

Yes the school term is upon us, the nanny is on holiday (I’d had a glass or two of wine when I agreed to that) and there’s a huge to do list that isn’t getting any shorter. So, up go the sleeves of my new Temperley blouse...

First stop, fresh supplies of their regulation school uniform. Online from Harrods of course. Alongside John Lewis, they just make everything from shirts and shorts to sports kit and music apparatus all so effortless.

Harrods even have the perfect pair of pink jodhpurs for Freya’s riding lessons that start this month).

Now I’m all for having my children’s feet measured by experienced fitters for their school shoes every now and again but the high street often runs low of stock by the end of August. So providing you don’t need to see a fitter, go for the easy option: head to the Startrite site and select the perfect style, without so much as a ticket or a queue in sight, online.

Next stop, a sports bag for the little man. Norby Norway’s at Izziwizzi Kids is on order as are new pencils, rubbers and numerous hair bands, bobbles and elastics. I’m potty about Arty & Bella’s hair clips though I’m not sure the school will allow them...

With the uniform police, I mean policy, in full force, my darlings are only permitted to express my, I mean their personalities with these super Cath Kidston pencil cases and picture perfect lunch boxes from Emma Bridgewater (dancing mice for her, dinosaurs for him!). Their arrival in the post causes huge excitement, followed by bribery to tidy up their rooms before I hand them over.

Other school essentials such as Cash’s name tapes and stick on labels can easily be purchased from The Great Little Trading Company without so much as hailing a cab!

Soon the house will be whisper quiet during the day, the local roads will be heaving with the weight of rush hour school traffic and I will again be able to concentrate on my search for the best botox practitioner.

All the remains it to pop a cork to celebrate surviving yet another set of VERY long school holidays.

Now where is that nanny when I need her?

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