Using a Planner

• Schedule Travel Time
  Are you always running late? For so many moms, working, volunteering, and managing a busy household add up to chronic lateness. When noting events in your Planner, remember to allow travel time for everything, be it family, work or outside events. Back start times up by 15 minutes, so if piano starts at 4:00 p.m. and you need 10 minutes to get there, don't leave at 3:50 p.m., instead leave at 3:35 p.m. You've built in a window for unexpected events like traffic allows time to get acclimated once you arrive. Most grown ups and kids alike handle transition better when not rushed. Arriving on time is a direct reflection of your respect for the individuals and events involved. Your children deserve unwavering commitment and more. Choose to arrive early and you're sure to be on top of your game!
• How to Use Your Planner
  If you don't already have one, get one! To organize your life, you need to know what its all about. Use a portable, mom-oriented that provides tracking in one location for each family members schedule and important reference information. From completing school registration forms to new doctor visits, menu planning to car pool rosters, using a planner alleviates confusion and encourages success. Take it with you anywhere and everywhere you go. Most importantly, prior to making any commitments, check group schedules first to qualify the need or the time for a new activity. Measure each inquiry alongside your defined priorities and answer with confidence that you not only have individual but family interest at heart.

• One Calendar for the whole family
  Use activity reference sheets for each family member. After mapping out Mary's activities, transfer all time commitments and deadlines to your weekly calendar. These schedules provide an overview of the week and offer direction on how to commit everyone accordingly. Thus your thinking goes from an individual to group perspective. Meet with your partner once a week to synch these schedules between work and home.