DANIELLE LLOYD: ‘A strict routine is key to my stress-free early starts’
TV star and busy mum Danielle Lloyd talks us through a typical morning in her hectic home and reveals her school run tips
With three W young boys, Danielle Lloyd is no stranger to the backto-school routine. And with her fourth baby due any day now, it’s fair to say things in the Lloyd household are going to be pretty busy come the start of the new term.
Danielle, 33, who is mum to Archie, seven, Harry, six, and George, three, from her marriage to footballer Jamie O’hara, admits that getting out of the house in the morning is all down to careful planning.
“I have a really structured routine so that we always get to school on time. I haven’t been late yet,” she says. “Having a strict plan is key, and teaches the boys some discipline. It’s easier said than done, but I always try to have all their uniforms ready.”
Former glamour model Danielle – who’s expecting a boy with fiancé Michael O’neill – says that allocating her sons specific tasks helps with the manic mornings before the school bell rings.
She explains: “My two older boys know they have to make their beds, open their blinds and tidy their room before they leave for school. I’m quite strict on that. And for me – especially with the new baby – I don’t want to be tidying up after them. They know that is what they need to do each morning, and then we all go downstairs and have breakfast together. Archie and Harry are good at dressing themselves for school as long as I have their uniforms ready.”
ONGOING BATTLE
But it isn’t all plain sailing and Danielle admits they do have one endless battle on school mornings.
“They’re terrible at cleaning their teeth,” she reveals. “Every day I get complaints from them that they don’t like the taste of the toothpaste, or they’re saying they’ve cleaned them and
then I check and they obviously haven’t. That’s a bit of a nightmare, but apart from that they’re pretty good and they do tend to listen to me. I take the boys to school, then I come back and clean the house or run errands.”
INCREDIBLE SUPPORT
After the school day ends, Danielle says the boys rarely come straight home and tend to go to after-school clubs.
“The kids’ social life is non-stop and it’s so much better than mine,” she laughs. “They’re at after-school clubs, or football practice, or wanting to have their friends over. But after that, we all have dinner together as a family, then they’ll have a bath and watch TV for half an hour before bed at 8pm.”
Danielle admits the household can be a little chaotic with three young boys – and will get even busier with the newborn – but says that Michael is an incredible support.
“He’s good at getting the boys out of the house and taking them to school,” she says. “And if things get too stressful, he always makes me laugh. He’s an amazing support.”
❛My boys are terrible at cleaning their teeth – that aside, they’re pretty good!❜