Happy Wednesday, friends!
Guess what? It’s the FIRST LET’S LOOK OF 2023!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!
If you want to catch what we “looked at” in 2022, here you go:
In January, we looked at HOW WE ORGANIZE FOR THE NEW YEAR.
In February, we looked at WHAT WE EAT IN A WEEK.
In March, we looked at OUR FAVES FROM HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE
In April, we looked at HOW WE DO DATE NIGHTS!
In May, we looked at OUR HOMETOWNS!
In June, we looked at OUR GO-TO SUMMER LUNCHES
In July, we looked at HOW WE KEEP HEALTHY
In August, we looked at HOW WE DO EVERY DAY CLEANING
In September, we looked at HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR CLOSETS
In October, we looked at OUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
In November, we looked at WHERE WE SHOP FOR OUR MOMS
In December, we looked at HOW WE HOST HOLIDAY PARTIES!
This year, we have a whole new line up of prompts (so many based on your suggestions!).
Just take a “look”…
Which means, today, we’re looking at….HOW WE SCHDEDULE/ORGANIZE OUR BUSY FAMILIES !
Agh!
I feel like you guys asked us this because you think we have some magic secret?
I can’t speak for Erika, but let me assure you, I do not.
It’s chaos.
No, really, it can be chaos, but for the most part, we just keep a really tight grip on things (no over-committing!), put everything on the calendar, work as a team and find other people to help drive our kids to-and-fro.
My ideas are not rocket science, but as I’m sitting here thinking, these are the FIVE that really jump out at me when I think about our normal/average weeknight.
My top five tips/ideas/tricks:
#1: WE SHARE A FAMILY CALENDAR.
So, this took YEARS to get us to actually do together, but last year, Andrew and I finally decided to share a calendar for our family stuff. Now, we still have our own personal calendars for work that we do not share, and yes, I still keep my Erin Condren Life Planner up to date (because I’m old-fashioned and love to actually write things down in a paper calendar), but now, we use the Cozi app for our family.
The app is really easy to use (and so is the website). I love how each individual family member has a “color”, so it’s easy to quickly glance and see where everyone needs to be/what they’re doing. I love that you can set certain things to “repeat” every (or every other) day/week/month. I really, really love how early every morning, Cozi sends you an email with that day’s agenda. To me, that’s the best thing! Every morning, I look at it one last time to make sure I’m aware of all the deets for the day and confirm I have my ducks in a row.
For me, the hardest part about using the calendar was just getting into the habit. Once I started though, and really started using it, it became so much easier to use. My tip though is that if you have a big list of items to input (for example, your son’s soccer schedule for the season) go to your computer to do that instead of the app. The app is great for individual things, but if you’re about to enter 20 items on the calendar, I find it way easier to use the website.
#2: WE DIVIDE AND CONQUER
I know many of you don’t have someone to “divide and conquer” with (you are rock star moms!) or your significant other has a schedule that doesn’t allow for it, but if there is any wiggle room at all, I would try to divide up certain tasks. Andrew and I used to take turns. For instance, I’ll take the middle schoolers today and you take them tomorrow and repeat…but honestly, it became so much easier when we agreed that I will always take the elementary kids and you will always take the middle schoolers (there are, of course, exceptions). Andrew and I find it easier to stay in a regular rhythm instead of swapping. We try to divide up as many scheduling things as possible to simplify our lives. Another example would be that I’m in charge of speech therapy, and he’s in charge of occupational therapy. When we would “take turns” taking kiddos, too many things got lost in translation. It became much easier for one parent to know #allthethings about that therapy and therapist than the two of us getting 50%. I know this one doesn’t/can’t apply to everyone, but for me, Andrew is my biggest resource and point of help when it comes to scheduling and organizing my family.
#3: WE MEAL PLAN ACCORDINGLY!
I’ve talked about meal planning ad nauseum on this blog. Let’s be real, I have 451 Meal Plans for you to follow on here, I’ve written TWO books on meal planning and when I just did a quick search, the phrase “meal plan” is used in 854 posts. Needless to say, I think meal planning is important 😉 . I find that on our craziest and busiest days, it’s a requirement for us to not go hungry or get hangry. You can find SO MUCH INFO on how I meal plan IN THIS POST HERE. In it, I share my method, easy recipes, etc. If you have a crazy busy family that has a lot going on…make sure you meal plan!
#4: WE JUST SAY NO.
Yup. I say “no” so that I can really say a big “YES” to something that serves my family even more. Sometimes, I say no to things in my own life whether it’s social, for church, for the kids’ school, for work…whatever…if it’s going to cause chaos in my family’s schedule for the evening, it’s simply better for everyone if I say no. Sometimes, I say no to things my kids are asked to do. “Yes, Madeley would love to attend that roller skating birthday party, but she has a volleyball game on one side of town and then we have a baseball tournament three towns over, so there is just no ‘non-crazy’ way to get her there.”. Saying no is hard at the beginning but let me challenge you to try it…the more you say it, the easier it becomes and the more peaceful your family’s life will be. I’m just sayin’…
#5: WE FIND OTHER PEOPLE TO DRIVE.
There are four of them and only two of us…so sometimes, we need extra peeps behind the wheel. When we can, we try to carpool with other families (that works out so well for EVERYONE), but if we can’t make that work, we have some very lovely college and high school aged neighbors who love to make a little money shuttling kids for us. As much as Andrew and I would love to be at everything for everyone all the time…it’s logistically impossible with four kids, so having someone else drive makes sense on some of those chaotic evenings when we have multiple practices.
So, those are five of my top tips, but I would LOVE to know your secret ways. You are the ones who told me to try Cozi! Just imagine where we’d be right now without you!! 😉
Please comment and share and every tip you have for scheduling/organizing your busy families!
Now, if you blogged along with us today and are also “looking at how you schedule/organize your busy family” please link up below! We love to see how you’re “looking at” different aspects of your life too! The link up is at the bottom of this post.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends! I’ll see you back here tomorrow! xx
Erika Slaughter says
I’m so glad to be back “Looking” with you!
Ruth says
I think that saying ‘no’ is a great tip. I wish that I had been better at that when I was a young mum. It certainly would have made things a whole lot easier!
Sara Young says
I completely agree with you! Looking back from my point of view today I said YES too many times. Ah experience and age teach us so much.
Elspeth says
I love learning how different petiole stay organized. I use the calendar on my phone and a regular planner to keep everything in sync!
http://www.Elspethsdaybyday.com
Beth Valenta says
I love the tip of learning to say NO. I have a hard time doing that, but have tried hard to embrace that I need my time to regroup and relish the small moments. It is nice to peer into a weekend filled with a simple dinner at home. 🙂
Lisa D says
As a Mom of 3, now grown, my biggest family organization tip is to say “no” and stick with it when saying “yes” would mean utter chaos and resentment. Otherwise, say “yes” when you can and also ask for help. I had 3 busy teens for a few years and it was pretty crazy at times when all three had things to get to. You will look back on your busy family years with a big smile!
Jamie says
Hi! I have three younger teens (12-14) who are super busy but don’t yet drive. How much do you pay the students you use to drive? I think that might just be the best idea I’ve ever heard!
Mix and Match Mama says
It depends on how far they drive/how long it takes. I always want to be fair, but it truly does depend on the location. If they’re going somewhere super close, it might be $10…if they’re taking Smith to rowing in Dallas and will be gone 4 hours…it’s going to be more. I always ask myself “is it worth the $10 not to leave Ashby’s soccer game to drive to volleyball practice?”…that helps me decide.
Alison says
I love these tips! How do you handle dinner if everyone is home at different times? I always try to do a slow cooker meal on a busy evening, but I still find myself rushing to eat and put away leftovers before heading out the door, and oftentimes my husband ends up heating up his dinner later. Do you leave your slow cooker on warm all evening and people eat as they can and then put things away at the end of the night? Maybe I need a post on the logistics of feeding the people. Haha!
Mix and Match Mama says
I do!!! If someone has to eat at a different time, I just keep it on warm until they’re ready to heat. Any of part of the meal (rice, pasta, etc), I’ll just pop in the fridge and let them (or me) reheat when they’re ready.
Ashley Byars says
Great tips. My husband and I have “state of the union” meetings once a month or so and go over all things we have put in cozi. Just for the reminder of logistics. It’s been so helpful to talk thru what we’ve had on the calendar for months instead of just assuming the other spouse seen an event when it was added to the calendar back when.
jennibell says
Great tips!! We used so many when our 4 were young too. I don’t know how people do it without calendars??? And how did WE do it without online calendars??? I just don’t know – they are so, so handy. A tip that I have used FOREVER (even before smart phones) are timers. Every morning my timer goes off at 7 to tell me to “start my day” (I get up anywhere between 4:30-6:45 — just whenever my body wakes me up) so sometimes am immersed in a book, a show, a project and would lose track of time if that alarm didn’t go off. Then, I have an 8 a.m. alarm to remind me to feed the dog. Yes, really. She doesn’t really beg to eat and, if I’m not on the main floor at 8 a.m., I could completely forget. Or, maybe if I left the house early and forgot, when my alarm goes off I can get hold of someone at the house to please feed her. Weirdly, because I’m a self-proclaim “workaholic” I have an alarm set at 3:45 to remind me that I DO have a family and people I need to get home to. I also use my timer to “budget” my time. . .or the kids. When they were little, I would say, 30 minutes to help me around the house or something like that so all would know there was a beginning and end to a task.
Thanks for such a great topic!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh you are a girl after my own heart!!! I love this!!! I love your tips, but truly, I also love how self-aware you are. Thank you for sharing!!
Rachel Miller says
I set timers for everything also! It helps me stay focused on what I’m actually doing right then and not worried about what time I need to leave or do something else.
Amie says
Thank you for the recommendation on the Cozi app. I love writing things down as well but this helps so much for my husband to be able to keep up without me just telling him and then him forgetting! haha We definitely share getting things done but it will be so much easier for him to see it beforehand.
Beverly says
I love the COZI app! Have been using it for years for grocery shopping. It is convenient to add items to my list when I see, or someone mentions, that we need something from the store. I also access it via the computer as I can look up recipes in one tab and put items needed in the COZI app on another tab.
Kelly says
Love this! Would you possibly write a post about how you and Andrew split up ALL chores? Like does he did all the outdoor stuff/ cars etc and you do the indoor stuff like cooking/ laundry cleaning? Also, that pic of Kensington holding a cream bowl with Andrew is so so cute!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love that picture too. It’s so “them”…and YES!! I can totally do that!
Loren says
I am curious why you like the cozi app over the standard apple calendar? we have four kids and use apple but I did download the cozi and got overwhelmed for some reason. I am thinking of trying it again.
Mix and Match Mama says
My honest to goodness answer is because people on here told me to years ago. I asked which app was best and that was the overwhelming response.
Nicole says
I have the same question. Does anyone have insight as to why it is BETTER than using the shared apple calendar? That seems just easier to me, but maybe I don’t know enough about COZI and what it offers. Always love reading your tips Shays, and everyone elses! Thanks!
Lauren says
Just curious, why is Cozi better than the normal calendar on the iPhone?
Lauren says
Nevermind. Just saw the comment above mine.
Rachel says
I’m trying to do a better job of meal planning. But to be honest I don’t know the basics! When you buy meat and freeze it, how long is it still good? When you buy it, it says freeze by… which I do. But then how long does it stay good for me to thaw it? I’d love some basic tips on how to freeze and thaw meat!
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t freeze meat. I used to do that (way back in the day), but now, I only buy meat fresh and use it within 3 or 4 days. If I need to thaw something though, I find the best way is overnight in the fridge.
Karah Stracener says
I use a paper calendar and the calendar on my phone to keep everything straight. I also have to meal plan weekly. The weeks I don’t meal plan I feel very disorganized. I keep a desk calendar at work where I also write down things that I don’t want to forget.