The Maxie Blog
Notes for busy UK parents on family organisation, the mental load, and getting through the school year with your sanity intact.
The Mental Load List: What UK Parents Actually Carry
Every guide says write the mental load down; none give you the list. Here it is, shaped like a UK school year, including the parts nobody counts.
Why Are School Packed Lunches So Hard for UK Parents?
Packed lunches feel harder than they should, and it's not just you. Here's what the research actually says, and why sharing the load genuinely helps.
Wraparound Care and After-School Clubs: A New Term Guide
Wraparound care and after-school clubs each come with their own booking windows, costs and cancellation rules. Here's how to get the new term organised.
INSET Days Explained: Baker Days, Dates and Childcare
What INSET days actually are, why they are called Baker days, and why one school's INSET day never seems to match the school down the road's.
Half Term Dates 2026/27: When Is Half Term in All Four UK Nations?
The next UK half term is October 2026. Dates by nation for all three 2026/27 half terms, including February 2027 and May 2027.
UK Summer Holidays 2027: Start Dates for All Four Nations
Summer holidays start on different dates in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2027. See the dates by nation and why yours might differ.
Easter 2027 UK: Dates, Bank Holidays and School Holidays
Easter Sunday 2027 is 28 March, Good Friday 26 March, Easter Monday 29 March. Plus UK bank holidays and school holiday dates for all four nations.
Does AI Reduce the Mental Load, or Just Relocate It?
A Time article asked whether AI can free women from caregiving's mental load. It's the wrong question, and here's the one that actually matters.
The Summer Holiday Mental Load and How to Share It
The summer holidays cram a year of family planning into six weeks, and it lands on one parent. Here's what that load is made of, and how to share it.
How Separated Parents Stay on Top of School Information
Both parents are usually entitled to the same school information after separation. Here's what you're entitled to, and how to make it actually work.
What to Do When Childcare Falls Through in the Holidays
Childcare plans fall through. Here's what you're legally entitled to, who to call first, and how to build a backup network that works when you need it.
How to Plan a Summer Holiday Childcare Rota That Works
Six weeks of school holidays need more than one parent's memory to hold together. Here's how to build a rota that covers the gap and actually holds.
Why Is Summer Holiday Childcare So Hard for Working Parents?
Most working mums don't have enough summer holiday childcare. Here's why the gap exists, what it actually costs, and who ends up covering it.
How UK Parents Can Stop Missing School Deadlines for Good
UK parents juggle permission slips, payments and application dates across a dozen channels. Here's the simple system that catches every school deadline.
How to Set Up a Shared Family Calendar on iPhone and Google
Create a shared family calendar in minutes on iPhone or Google. This 2026 step-by-step guide covers grandparents and co-parents on different phones too.
What Is a Family Planner and Which Type Works Best?
A practical guide to family planners in 2026 - what to include, and how to choose between paper, a wall planner or an app for how your family runs.
How to Explain the Mental Load to Your Partner and Be Heard
Original research from UK parents reveals why the mental load is so hard to explain, and how to start the conversation without it turning into a row.
How to Manage a School Calendar and Keep Everyone Informed
A simple system for managing your family's school calendar so nothing gets missed: how to capture dates and keep parents and caregivers up to date.
Best Family Organiser Apps for UK Families in 2026
Maxie, Cozi, FamilyWall and Google Calendar, compared honestly on school terms, event capture and price, so you can pick the right one fast.
School Email Overload: Why It Happens and How to Fix It
Why UK parents are overwhelmed by school emails, newsletters and WhatsApp groups - and how to cut the noise so the right messages get through.
UK School Calendar Explained: Terms, Half Terms and Holidays
How the UK school year works: every 2026-27 break at a glance, why term dates vary by nation, and how to keep every caregiver on the same ones.
From Paper to Digital: UK Family Command Centres in 2026
UK families have always built coordination hubs at home. Here's why physical family command centres are struggling in 2026, and what's replacing them.
UK Back to School Planning: Checklist and Timeline
Your 2026 UK back to school checklist, week by week: uniforms, supplies, routines and first-day logistics, so nothing gets left to the last minute.
UK Family Organisation 2026: How Modern Families Manage
Hybrid working, school comms overload and AI are reshaping UK family life. Here's what's actually working for UK families in 2026 - and what isn't.