Kerryn Boogaard Kerryn Boogaard
Beverly Goldsmith Beverly Goldsmith
Zoe Bingley-Pullin Zoe Bingley-Pullin

Surviving witching hour:

Wryly referred to as “the witching hour”, early evening can be the most exhausting and frustrating daily timeslot for busy mums.
By Katelyn Vercoe
Date: December 08 2011
Editor Rating:
family-in-kitchen

Older children arrive home from after school activities, hungry and bursting to tell the news of the day (all at once). Toddlers and babies are grizzly and scream if removed from the haven of mum’s arms and dad walks in from work, expecting harmony, a good meal and control of the television. Chances are, if mum has been to work, or had a disrupted day at home, the washing will need bringing in, dinner is only half prepared and her nerves are stretched to breaking point.

Whilst this scenario may sound sadly familiar, it does not need to be accepted as an inevitable part of family life. Some simple pre-emptive measures can help you conquer the witching hour for good.

Free mum’s schedule

Leave the time between school pick-up and serving dinner to focus on the kids and their needs. Avoid attempting housework and don’t even consider taking time out to relax (unless you are relaxing with your offspring, in a way that makes them happy).

Be prepared

Make meals ahead of time. This could be done earlier in the day, if you are able, or have a weekly cooking session and store ready to heat meals in the freezer. Have after school snacks and clothes on hand as soon as the kids arrive home, to minimize displays of impatience.

Give clear expectations

Make sure the kids know what is expected of them in the afternoons. Have a regular routine of homework, chores and play. Be consistent. Delegate tasks so that the evening runs smoothly.

Have realistic expectations

When kids and adults return home at the end of the day, they are usually worn out. Allow sufficient “down time” for energy replenishment. Tailor dinner menus to suit your availability. There is a great deal to be said for one-pot dishes that can be tossed in the oven and forgotten until serving time. Make use of purchased sauces and recipe bases to simplify meal preparation. Save time-consuming, complex concoctions for days when you can give them your full attention.

Make involvement fun

Enlist the help of the kids in preparing for the meal. Find tasks they enjoy rather than forcing them to do dreaded jobs...this only adds to the frustration of everyone. Older children may prefer amusing little ones to assisting with chores, which could actually be more useful.

It’s Wiggle time

A bright bouncy children’s DVD (who can go past “The Wiggles”?) can distract a miserable toddler and provide precious peace for the rest of the family. A second television is an asset. With news and current affairs in one room and dancing dinosaurs in the other, everyone is happy.

Be strong and of good courage

Having done everything in your power to make an evening run smoothly, things can still go belly-up! Try to retain your inner calm and resist the urge to contribute to escalating tensions. Remind yourself that, in a short while the kids will be in bed and you can put your feet up and relax. That is, after you have cleared the mess and prepared for the early morning onslaught.

Do you agree "witching hour" is the hardest part of the day?

100% of Mums Agree0% of Mums Disagree
Share This Tweet This Email To Friend
Recent Comments
2 Total Comments
wallens says: 2015 11 24
Rating:

Your music is amazing. You have some very talented artists. I wish you the best of success. how to get followers on twitter fast get subscribers

Freytag Drive says: 2018 08 31
Rating:

Whilst we’re looking for an apartment for rents, we normally choose people with very clean rooms” thanks for the quality weblog. It changed into very useful for me. I am happy I found this blog thanks for sharing with us.I truly fee the sort of topics you publish here. A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing us a brilliant record that is surely useful. I am extremely happy to have come upon your net web site. halloween accessories

View All Comments
Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:


Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:33343


Your Comment has been posted
Cry babies

Dry your eyes!
The newest additions are on their way from the Babies who cry real tears!

Shipping-containers-freight-wallpaper-preview

Latest Tech Used In Shipping Containers
Read how the shipping industry has revolutionised

Motherpedia cover-2

Win 1 set of a 4-book hardcover illustrated boxed set
Barbara Murray’s new 4-book Sound Stories is perfect for parents and educators and could assist with NAPLAN results

Motherpedia cover (4)

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest Australia
Get ready for this celebration!

Motherpedia cover-4

A Fortnight of Foodie Experiences at East Village
A taste of East Village. What's in it for me?

Globber my too fix up cover

We Try: Globber My TOO Fix Up
A scooter that grows with your child

Throw a winning cricket pitch

3 Steps to a Winning Backyard Cricket Pitch
Ex-Adelaide Oval legend curator Les Burdett shares his tips for getting your backyard cricket pitch test match ready this summer

A bike that follows your kids life cycle - motherpedia - cover

A Bike That Follows Your Kids Life Cycle
Check out the Bunzi 2-in-1 gradual balance bike!

Moonlight lifestyle

Moonlight Cinema to bring…
Moonlight Cinema announces brand new Western Sydney venue

Screen shot 2019-11-26 at 8.29.12 am

Your Magical Christmas Wonderland…
Adventure park is about to light up the night sky with its "Christmas Festival of Lights"

Screen shot 2019-11-21 at 11.11.36 am

The Preston Market Gets…
It's time to feel pumped up for the holiday season!

Bruno-kelzer-zqzuigxcvrq-unsplash

Bunnings team members get…
Help raise funds by buying a snag or donating at your local store.