‘I don’t feel in control because that’s the time of day cars are backing in and out...’

Nikki Maraki and her partner David Noyer seem like superparents, effortlessly conducting a different tailor-made, three-child schedule for every day of the week.

In truth, they say, they are just like many other families: accomplished child-hustlers; wellversed in the art of tomato sauce removal, booster seat reconfiguration and screamingmatch management. United in their common goal to get offspring to school or childcare in a timely and considered manner, these parents could run small countries with their level of organisation.

‘‘There are so many different scenarios, and if things go wrong, we have contingency plans,’’ says Nikki.

Nikki lives in Auckland’s Greenlane with David, and three children; Callum, 6, William, 4, and Dallas, 22 months. She works part time, Monday, Thursday and Friday as a science teacher at Macleans College, and is at home other days with the littlies.

‘‘Going through all the different days of the week and coming up with all sorts of little plans was stressful to begin with but now I’m in a rhythm – but it doesn’t take much for it to become overwhelming.’’

On a Monday, Nikki drops Callum and her neighbour’s daughter to Oranga Primary before-school care at 7.30am.

She then delivers Will and Dallas to a private daycare on the way to her work, where she just makes the 8am staff briefing.

Tuesday and Wednesday – Nikki’s days off – she walks Callum and the neighbour’s daughter to school, with her two youngest ambling along beside them.

‘‘If I were to walk it myself, it would take me about five minutes, but with them I have to leave about 20 minutes. They just want to explore everything on the way.’’

She sometimes bikes, but that doesn’t always sit well. ‘‘I just don’t feel in control enough, especially because that’s the time of day that cars are backing in and out of their driveways.’’

On Thursday and Friday, Callum is chaperoned by the neighbours.

Nikki found the regimented schedule stressful at first.

‘‘I always feel like I’m rushing: rushing out the door, rushing to get to work on time, to pick them up, get dinner on, to get them into bed. Often we’ll walk out of the house in the morning and there’s still dirty dishes in the sink and jam residue on the benches, but you just have to turn off the lights, close the door and leave it – but then you come home to it and it’s horrific and that’s the reality of it.’’

Her best advice for parents who want to Foot It? Choose a school in your community. ‘‘ You can build the relationship with people living close by for school and community events.’’