I call it Family Calendar.
It takes 10 minutes a week-but truly minimizes minutes, hours and many headaches for the remainder of the week.
It consists of all members of the family sitting down together for 10 minutes a week , every week on the same day every week , usually on a Sunday right before a new week begins, and going over the family calendar together and what’s upcoming for each member (extra curricular activities, special events, exams, parent’s work schedules, birthdays and anniversaries etc..)
Most organized families I know have a central calendar for the family on their laptop or stuck on the fridge-but this goes one step further-it is the sharing of it that is essential. The discussion around it that is critical.
This simple ritual not only gathers the family together, but provides a climate of stability, security, predictability and comfort for everyone involved, It also forces the parents to be more organized and aware of where they and their children are spending their time and gives them important reality checks into their calendars.
I have found that just installing this one simple process into a household makes a massive difference into the quality of family life. Children crave security and knowledge and this format is all inclusive and they feel important knowing the whereabouts of both themselves and their loved ones.
It is especially important in families where both parents have busy and demanding careers so that the children have a sense of knowledge and understanding of who will be taking care of them and their needs when their parents are not there and at work. It comforts them to know Mom is in Portugal and Dad is working super late on Wednesday but that Grandma will be making dinner that night. They know that Friday night everyone will be back together and can look forward to special Swiss chocolates that will be brought home as a treat. It lets everyone look forward to the moments of the week ahead and prepares them for the moments that may be tougher or harder on kids.
I know in our own family it has been an instrumental tool in our household since my youngest was about 2 yrs old. Sunday night we go through our family calendar-directed by me.
This week we did “not have time for family calendar” (in quotes because as I write it I realize that it is a lame excuse, who cannot make time for 10 minutes!)
I saw the difference in our week already. Everyone is a bit all over the place and a bit mixed up. I am gone all week (again!) but back for one night tonight. No one could even look forward to me coming home because they did not know when I was returning. Beauty was all confused of who was picking her up from cooking and Chase had no one rooting for him for his big upcoming math exam. Just left us all a bit strangely disconnected. I even forgot to send my Hubby my itineraries of hotels this week or tell him where I will be staying the next two days!
So don’t be afraid to start this ritual in your home even if you have little ones or have little time. You will see the benefits very quickly. Makes you more organized, more in charge and more deliberate in the way you choose to spend your time.
Biggest Bonus: Your kids start to appreciate that Mom and Dad actually have a life too. It really pays off when one of them will turn to you and say “Thanks so much Mom for making time to drive me to my friend’s house Friday night. I know you had a crazy week and would probably rather be taking a nap.”
That’s when you get to turn around and say “Are you Kidding? No way! Driving you around is the best part of my week. There is nothing I would rather be doing right now”.
Happy Family Scheduling to All!
