I work full time and am lucky enough to have boys in school now. Beforehand, it was really hard working out daycare, Poppycare (thank goodness for my Dad!) kinder and school. Particularly when I lived 20 mins from the school.

I've now moved house and am 14 houses from the school. Means the boys walk up with my Dad - I get to walk to the station, and everyone is happy.

(I'm also single, so no partner's income or any issues like that, and am lucky enough to earn enough that I don't have FTB/CCB issues either, although when the kids were younger that was an issue.)

I can't take days off for sick kids - and am effectively a "contractor" so don't get leave, sick pay, carers leave or anything else. If I don't work, I don't get paid. And I do a lot of after hours work too. It's really hard to juggle everything. When I moved, I also got a cleaner and a gardener. Life is now fabulous.

It's much easier when the kids are in school, the hours are regular and everything is predictable. Until they start after school activities like footy, cricket, basketball....