Mother-of-three Jasmine, of Frankston
Kids: Rhyli, 5, Marli, 8, Jhai, 10
Co-owner of LF Sign Group in Carrum Downs
HAVE you ever met a supermum? You know the type – the children’s chauffeur, the masterchef, the classroom volunteer, the impeccable host, the flawless fashionista. And she’s holding down a job (Think Sarah Jessica Parker in the film I Don’t Know How She Does It). Well, let me get this out of the way – she’s not me. But trying to wrangle work and young kids into a stress-free schedule does mean I have to be super-organised. Consider this equation: six days a week during term time there’s eight dance classes, one music class, two running classes, two athletics sessions, one singing class, and one swimming lesson. Not to mention three days in the office. It can be chaos. I’m zipping up and down Cranbourne Rd as many as three times each day, taking Rhyli, Marli and Jhai to all their activities. I have to get up at 5am just to fit in a gym session to get some exercise and ‘me’ time. I go to PARC because I love the range of classes they have that fit into my unconventional schedule. Hubby and I have always given our children the freedom to choose whatever activity they want to do, but it was important they learned to swim. Which is why we’ve been so happy with PARC. They have more classes than any other Centre I looked at, and kids can also swim in the pool and wet play area before and after the class. A lot of other swimming lesson providers don’t offer that – you are just in and out the door. We were going to another Centre but moved to PARC as it was better value for money. The staff have been accommodating and understand what it’s like to have a diary packed full of kid’s classes. When I had two kids learning to swim, they tried hard to get them in classes close together, so I didn’t need to dash in and out on multiple week days. Two of the kids were attending back to back lessons on a Friday night. In a crowded week, small blessings like this make life that little bit easier. And Rhyli starts school this year, so I can scratch the childcare and kindy runs from my iPhone calendar.
Exhale…