2026 is my 14th year as a school mum.

You'd think by now I'd have back-to-school prep nailed. Instead, I'm standing in my kitchen, the floor dusted with sand and beach towels draped over every available surface, realising, far too late, that the school year is about to start.

Just because it happens at the same time every year doesn't mean I ever see it coming.  A bit like the kids' birthdays, or Christmas.

With only a few days to pivot to early alarms, lunchboxes and homework, the year-group WhatsApp chats are already pinging.

"Where do we find the stationery list?"

"Which lunchbox is best?"

"When does the uniform shop open?"

I've learned it's not the obvious things that trip us up. It's the smaller, less talked-about details that make the biggest difference once the term begins.

Here are five practical back-to-school steps that you probably won't see on your group chats, but make the pivot back to routine feel a whole lot less painful.

1. The ear care routine most of us forget.

While midday beach swims will sadly pause once school starts, water activities are still very much on the agenda. Swimming lessons, school swimming carnivals, weekend boogie-boarding and after-school dips continue well into term one, thanks to our gloriously long Aussie summer.

One common issue at this time of year is swimmer's ear — an inflammation or infection of the outer ear canal that occurs when water becomes trapped after swimming.

While most parents have solid routines for sunscreen, skincare and teeth brushing, ear care is often something we only think about once there's a problem — usually starting with, "Mum, my ear hurts."

For parents wanting to be more prepared, there are ear care products designed to support healthy ears easily at home.

After long days in the water, EarClear Swimmer's Ear is formulated to help prevent swimmer's ear by drying excess water and relieving the painful inflammation associated with it.

Despite how tempting it is, cotton tips don't always remove earwax. Instead, they can push wax deeper into the ear canal, sometimes making blocked ear wax worse. EarClear Ear Wax Remover helps remove earwax. Its dual-action formula softens, loosens and breaks up wax, helping it to exit naturally from the ear. And when ear pain strikes, EarClear Ear Ache is formulated with a local anaesthetic and analgesic to help provide relief of ear ache associated with otitis media, also known as middle ear infection.

Having ear care options on hand can make it easier to manage concerns as they arise, without the stress of a last-minute dash to the pharmacy — especially during a busy school term.

2. The gold-coin problem (and how to finally solve it).

Somewhere in every Australian household, there's a jar of random silver coins. Completely useless on a morning when a gold coin is what you actually need. Ask me how I know.

Mufti Day. Harmony Day. Sports Jersey Day.

After 14 years of frantic searches through wallets, glove boxes and desk drawers, I needed an intervention.

So, I filled a jar with gold coins.

It sounds minor.

Silly, even.

But when Silly Sock Day comes out of nowhere, it'll be a game-changer.

3. The school hat chaos (and the $5 fix).

How many mornings have I sent a text that says, "Did Jack leave his hat at your place yesterday? If so, can Fred bring it to school?" while hustling out the door to catch the bus?

Before the term starts, it's worth checking whether you know where the school hat is, if it still fits (do they shrink in the wash, or is it just me?), and — most importantly — if you have a backup.

Second-hand hats are perfect for this. I have it on good authority, from my children, that new hats are not cool. The more washed, faded and "lived-in", the better.

Yes, kids should be responsible for their things. And yes, that includes hats. But these aren't moral lessons. They're practical hacks to make mornings calmer. Trust me, a $5 spare saves everyone from unnecessary morning chaos.

4. The school commute that changes every year.

Even if the school stays the same, travel routines change as the kids grow.

My youngest used to insist on being walked to the bus stop every morning. Then one day, poof, mum was no longer required. He wanted to catch the train with his mates instead.

Did I cry? Of course I did.

Back-to-school is a good time to check in on who they're walking with, which bus or train they're catching, and to set up a backup plan — because, well, public transport can be unreliable.

Having this conversation early avoids confusion later (and yes, tears, usually ours) and shows respect for the fact that kids' independence and confidence can and should evolve.

5. The bedtime reset no one feels ready for.

One of the best parts of summer holidays is staying up late and sleeping in. The downside is how hard it can be to wind things back when school looms.  

A soft launch before term starts can help:

• Returning bags, hats and shoes to their weekday spot.

• Nudging bedtime closer to school-term reality.

• Reintroducing bedtime routines if books were a holiday casualty (argh, so much guilt).

This isn't about strict rules. Some nights it works. Some nights it doesn't. It's about finding a rhythm that works in your house, so mornings feel less rushed for everyone.

Summer holidays are meant to be loose, sandy and a little chaotic.

Back-to-school prep doesn't have to squash that feeling.

Sometimes it's just about smoothing the edges and easing ourselves back into the school year, and remembering that even after 14 years, most of us are still working it out as we go.

And honestly, that's probably the most reassuring part of all.

Explore EarClear's range of ear care products.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

Featured image: Canva.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EarClear

EarClear offers a complete range of effective and easy to use ear care products that help you clear your ears and relieve discomfort. Formulated with effective ingredients, EarClear is the solution to uncomfortable ear problems, including ear wax build up, swimmer's ear and ear ache. Give your ears the care they deserve with EarClear.
Always read the label and follow directions for use.