We’re halfway through the summer holidays. Just a few more weeks of juggling work, playdates, day trips, and the constant request for snacks.
If you’re new to the school-life shuffle, my one bit of advice: start now. The good shoe sizes and the uniform bits that actually last vanish quicker than you think. And buying school shoes in a half-empty shop the day before term starts is not for the faint-hearted (been there, would rather not go again).
I’m going to cover all this, but first I want to share my first-phone dilemma with you, as I know so many of you are in the same position. If it’s not you yet, then skip on past!
📱 The First-phone Dilemma
For anyone with a Year 7 starting in September or moving up the independence ladder, this one’s been on my mind for a while.
You’ll know I’ve talked about Smartphone Free Childhood before. It’s a movement I really believe in, and one that’s shaped how I think about all of this. But there’s a gap between “no smartphone” and “no phone at all” that nobody really talks about. And it’s the bit I’ve been sitting with for a while.
Because at some point they’re walking home. Getting the bus. Going to a friend’s on a Saturday. You want a way to reach them. Without handing over the whole internet at eleven.
Turns out Smartphone Free Childhood have a Safe Phone Finder. A short quiz that narrows down the options based on what your child’s actually ready for. Genuinely useful, and it saved me weeks of googling.
Mine ended up with a phone called Sayph, and I can’t recommend it enough. It looks and feels like a normal phone. He can call, message, take photos, all the bits he actually needs. But no group chats, no social media, no wormhole to fall down.
The bits that sold me. I can track him. He can only contact people already in his phone, and anyone new has to be approved by me first, so no one can message him without me knowing. Full control, without making him feel like the odd one out.
And honestly, he loves it. Which was the bit I didn’t expect. I think back to calling my friends on the landline, and essentially it’s the same thing that they want at that age.
👟 School Shoes: This Year’s Picks
Clarks and Startrite still do the job for feet that need a bit more support. Matalan, Next, M&S, John Lewis and Sainsbury’s are all solid if you’d rather not cry when they scuff them by week two.
For boys, the Adidas Tensaur trainer-style shoe still has a cult parent following. Goes up to a 6.5 now too. If yours is a scuffer, look for a darker sole or a reinforced toe. Kickers are good for this.
👕 Uniform That Actually Lasts
M&S for the pieces that need to survive the year. Supermarkets for the backups (because they will get through them).
Soft pinafores = comfy but still smart. And I’m firmly on Team short-and-long-sock combo for the boys.
Little tip: keep an emergency uniform kit in the car or by the front door. One clean polo, a spare pair of tights, a jumper. For the morning that goes sideways.
🎒 Bags and Lunch Boxes
Look for lightweight but roomy, with padded straps. Nike, Hype and M&S all do lovely ones.
For lunch boxes, insulated and wipe-clean is the dream. And if yours is a fussy eater, the more fun you can make it, the better.
🛒 The Ocado Shop That’s Saving Me
One thing keeping me sane isn’t a hack or a hobby. It’s my Ocado delivery.
Planned in a week or two ahead. Fridge stocked before the 4pm “there’s nothing to eat” spiral. Snacks in. Fruit in. The little M&S treats for me.
No dragging three kids round the supermarket in the heat. Just a slot booked and the shopping arriving at the door. Sounds boring. Feels like a win.
💛 Small Business Shout Out – The JJ Club
The JJ Club was founded by Molly Aldridge, a mum of two who named it after her boys, Jake and Joshua. She built it for parents like her. Busy, stretched, and quietly craving a bit of community that actually fits around real life.
It’s grown into 300+ partners and 400+ members, all connected through an app that launched in June. Curated events, trusted local experts, and proper discounts on the brands families already love. The flagship clubhouse opens in SW London in 2027, which feels like a big deal.
They’ve kindly my subscribers 25% off annual membership with the code JJCLUBXMSGI.
If you’re SW London based, or just love the sound of a members’ club built by a mum who gets it, have a look.
Back-to-school always feels like a soft new year to me. New shoes, sharpened pencils, that little flip in the stomach on the first morning.
It doesn’t have to be perfectly organised to be a good start. Just getting them out that door is enough.
Louise x
*Affiliated links used for some products and brand partnerships.