March into Spring! Solutions for the Season

Surprisingly, March can be your most heavily scheduled month of the year. You may be juggling an avalanche of seasonal organization tasks with spring break vacation and new extracurricular activities. It's back to the basics with planner in hand to stay on top of your game. Take a look at these GO MOM!^® strategies to keep March more like a lamb than a lion in your home this year:

• Map Your Madness - The shortest distance between to points is a straight line. Open your planner and you'll be sure to find plenty of them waiting for you to map your schedule while taming the task list. Stay on track by transferring all important dates and information into your planner daily as you receive notice of each event. Color-code each family member for quick reference. Once your map is complete, review it to make certain you have pockets you can block for big seasonal tasks such as replacing mulch, power washing decks, and washing windows.

• Seasonal Service Even you Can Do - Take one afternoon this March to tackle a list of tasks that will save you both time and money, and perhaps even your life. Start with replacing batteries in all smoke detectors, cleaning vents and replacing furnace filters, and cleaning refrigerator coils and dryer vents for maximum efficiency. Take a quick peek at your hot water heater and major appliances, making sure to tighten all hoses and connections when needed. And finish up with a quick flip of all mattresses and washing of quilts, pillows, and rugs to keep dust mites at bay.

• Don't Forget the Paperwork - Your file cabinet provides a compass to seasonal maintenance in various areas. Keep a quarterly schedule on track for oil changes and automotive service, schedule any necessary medical appointments family wide, and arrange for air conditioner service long before the first hot day of the season. Turn an eye towards safety and review family emergency plans for yourself and family by holding a fire drill and discussing this and any other evacuation plans you may need. Update your Emergency Documents Box with this information for quick reference.

• Vacation…Now? - Spring break is a great change of pace that begs protection. Let coaches and activity coordinators know that your family is not available during that time and compile a list of local attractions and activities to include in your fun for breaks at home. Take care not to schedule projects or tasks to afford your family maximum flexibility while taking a break from your busy lives. A vacation at home is equally as valuable as one those away when handled with a spirit of fun and adventure. While in a vacation frame of mind, plan now for any summer break activities that spark an interest. Many community recreation centers release their summer schedules this month and offer a wonderful array to suite almost any age and activity.

GO MOM !NC Founder, Molly Gold, is a 40-year-old mother of three and the creator of The GO MOM!^® product line. Gold is known for her keen insights into Family Scheduling and has been featured both in print and on air media alike. Gold currently serves on Proctor & Gamble's Mr. Clean Team Expert Panel, Cartoon Network's Tickle U Advisory Board and as Family Scheduling Expert at both www.BlueSuitMom.com, and www.NewBaby.com. Gold's work has most recently been featured on NBC's Today Show Weekend Edition, as a contributing author in the newly released, The Experts Guide to the Baby Years, by Samantha Ettus, Women's Health Magazine, and in the February 2007 Family Fun Magazine.