Peony Place. Jules Wake

had to have one too.

      While they were busy chomping their chocolate, I scooped up all the folded bits of paper, which turned out to be letters from the school about missing library books, overdue dinner money, a second request for money for a school trip to Harewood Bird Garden and a reminder about parent-teacher consultation appointments.

      ‘Have you got letters too, Poppy?’ I asked as the three of us sat at the kitchen table.

      She nodded, shamefaced, and handed over a sheaf of more of the same. I quickly sorted them into piles of things I could do something about and things that could wait until Alice got back next week, and ones that were very overdue demands for money. I then sat and wrote a bunch of cheques while the girls drank juice and ate their Crunchies. Then I went through Ava’s book bag, which was full of rubbish and one letter dated three weeks earlier asking Alice to make an appointment to discuss Ava’s progress. I put that on the pile for Alice, making a mental note to bring it to her attention as soon as she got back.

      What I needed was a to-do list. Once I’d started, everything seemed a lot clearer. I could do this.

       Read with Ava

       Spellings with Ava

      ‘Have you got any homework, Poppy?’ I asked, prompted by my list.

      ‘Yes, Maths.’ She pulled a face. ‘It’s hard.’

      ‘Do you want some help with it?’

      Her eyes widened. ‘Mummy always says it’s my homework and I have to do it.’

      ‘Yes, but a little help will make it less hard,’ I suggested.

      Her sudden beam warmed me. ‘That would be awesome, if you could.’

      I added it to my list. ‘What other things do you need this week? PE kits? Library books? Anything else.’

      ‘PE is on Monday and Friday for me,’ said Poppy.

      Predictably, Ava didn’t have a clue but luckily it was written in her planner.

      I added everything to my growing list.

      ‘And it’s Stationery Club day on Friday, so I need fifty pence to buy a new ruler.’

      ‘An’ me. I need a new pencil sharpener and a pencil and a pen,’ added Ava.

      By the time it was teatime, I’d put together a comprehensive list and timetable for the rest of the week. When I looked at it, I immediately felt calmer. See, I could do this. I just needed to be organised.

      Over the next four days, I would work through the list and everything would run like clockwork. We would eat nutritious, homemade meals, the girls would have everything they needed for school, and I would get them there on time every morning. If I could just manage all this, I could show myself that I was getting back on track. Getting back to the smart, efficient, super-employee I once was.

      Now, if only Alice would phone.