It's ME

The Start

Hey there! I’m Aypril, a 34 year old mom of five incredibly wild kids, and I’m so excited to finally start sharing our life with you. This is a space where I’ll be honest about the chaos, the laughter, the lack tears, and the moments that make each day unforgettable. Whether you’re a fellow parent, curious about how I manage it all, or just here for the humour—welcome to the ride!

Why I Started Writing

Back in 2022, I began writing as a way to heal. I didn’t think much of it at the time—I just wanted to get my thoughts out. But what happened next surprised me. I realised that my everyday dramas, the chaos I thought was too much to handle, were actually making people laugh. It was kind of a lightbulb moment: I was busy chasing perfection—perfect outfits, a tidy house, Pinterest-worthy everything—and I was exhausted.

Then it hit me: parenting isn’t meant to be perfect. It’s about fun, mess, and enjoying the chaos. Now, I lean into the mess and try not to sweat the small stuff. After all, those moments of genuine laughter and joy are what really matter.

A Day in the Life

My day starts bright and early—around 5:30 AM. Yes, I’m a morning person, or at least I try to be! I shower daily, get myself dressed, and ready for the day. Then I wake up my kids around 6:45. I’m pretty proud because I usually prep their uniforms the night before—out and ready so they just need to get washed, dressed, and hair done. It’s basically a conveyor belt of chaos.

Morning Routine

Once they’re up, it’s all systems go. I drive the three youngest to breakfast club for 7:30 AM while the older two take themselves to school (they’re practically responsible adults now—how did that happen?). I love my job at an SEN school. The staff and students are just amazing. I honestly go because I love it. Some days are wild—think chaos times ten—but most days I come home feeling grateful, making great friends and building meaningful relationships.

After School Madness

Getting home is another adventure. Picking up the three youngest from after-school club is like trying to pick up fallen marbles—everyone bouncing out, throwing bags and bottles, jackets flying everywhere. They all want to tell me 101 stories (mostly nonsense, but I love it).

Getting the three little ones into the car is a battle. My 3-year-old loves to pretend he’s Spider-Man—climbing over seats, refusing to sit in his car seat because, in his words, “I bigger, I go big school.” Boy please, if he doesn’t sit down, I threaten to put him in the boot. That usually gets him in.

Then there’s my 9-year-old, who—guess what—loves to tell me “mom, guess what?” and then spews a bunch of pointless facts. Did you know octopuses have three hearts? Yeah, I don’t know why she knows that, but I’m stuck listening to it on repeat. And I ask her, “How do you even know this stuff? You’re so shy at school, but as soon as the car door closes, explosion of random facts.” Classic.

And my 6-year-old? Oh boy. It’s a nonstop barrage of questions: “Mom, can I have your phone? Drink? Window open? Snack? What’s for dinner?” I sit there thinking, ‘How am I even surviving?’ Sometimes I want headphones, but my kids have a radar for my earphones—they’re right in there with their hands on me the second I start to relax. I love them, but please—don’t touch me!

Home Sweet Chaos

At home, I have a simple plan: everyone goes to their room, gets off their uniforms, and I declare “quiet time” (aka screen time). I’m not even sorry. The older two usually chill in their rooms, game or whatever teens do. The 9-year-old and 6-year-old are allowed TV until 8 pm, then it’s lights out.

My 3-year-old, who sleeps in my bed, is a dream—because he sleeps through the night and is pretty feral otherwise. He’s a bath-shower kid, pjs on, bottle, then off to sleep. No battles there—I’ve won that war.

Evening Calm (Sort Of)

After everyone’s in bed, I do a whirlwind tidy-up—dishes, laundry, random toys, water bottles, snacks. Sometimes it seems endless!

Then I settle in around 9 pm, usually start writing.

Writing clears my mind and helps me manage the stress of so much chaos. Honestly, writing is therapy for me, and I love sharing our messy, beautiful story.