Suburban Mum is a UK family lifestyle blog sharing real-life parenting advice, GCSE help for parents, Surrey days out and honest reviews

GCSE Help for Parents

Navigating GCSEs? You’re not alone. From exam dates and revision tips to surviving mock season, here’s what I’ve learned about supporting teens through it.

A young girl sitting at a table looking thoughtful, suggesting reflection and emotional awareness.

Helping Children Navigate Big Emotions as They Grow

Childhood is full of highs and lows. Joy, excitement, frustration, sadness, and anger all arrive in big, sometimes overwhelming doses. ...

How to Make School Mornings Less Stressful

Mornings can be one of the most stressful parts of the day for families. As a mum with two boys ...

Am I a Tiger Mum?

Each evening on top of reading, (which is required by the school) E and I sit down together and I ...

Family Life

Real life parenting – the highs, the chaos and everything in between.

Teenager at a desk surrounded by revision notes and textbooks, preparing quietly for a mock exam.

What To Do When Your Teen Has Fallen Behind

It hits you out of nowhere sometimes. You’re watching your teen revise, half-focused, half-drifting, and ...

Student in a beige hoodie studying alone, capturing the reality of GCSE revision season at home.

Keeping Family Life Running Smoothly During GCSE Revision Season

GCSE revision season’s here, and the house feels it. E’s mostly in his room these ...

A tired student’s desk with open textbooks and scattered papers, capturing the focus and fatigue of exam preparation

GCSE Revision 2026: A Real Parent’s Guide to Surviving Exam Season

It feels like we’ve just blinked, and suddenly it’s revision season. E’s GCSEs are starting ...

Rear view of students seated in a classroom, focusing on the backs of their heads and desks

GCSE Exam Dates 2026: What Parents Need to Know

It feels like everything is happening at once. Only last week we were finishing off ...

I’m Maria. I live in Surrey with my two boys and my husband, and this blog started as a place to write things down before I forgot them.

It’s grown over the years, but at heart it’s still about our everyday life — school runs, revision seasons, days out that go brilliantly (and ones that don’t), and figuring out this parenting thing as the boys get older.

Some posts are practical. Some are reflective. Some are just me thinking out loud.

If you’re raising children somewhere between little and nearly-grown, you’ll probably recognise a lot of it.

Travel & Days Out

Family holding hands while walking on beach

How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Family Day Out

Planning a family day out sounds simple enough in theory. Pick somewhere everyone likes, get out of the house, and …

The best hidden gems for family adventures

When planning family days out, it’s easy to pick the same well-trodden attractions that you know will be a hit ...

10 Brilliant Family Day Trips Within 2 Hours of London

When the sun’s out and the weekend’s calling, there’s nothing better than packing up the car (or hopping on a ...

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