I haven’t shared my thoughts for a while, it has been super busy here at SA Mom Blogs headquarters. We have our re-launch party coming up, we are working with some awesome Mamahood moms, doing reviews and giveaways on their amazing products and services and I have my honest mom series running. I am loving it but it has been keeping me busy busy busy!
It has also forced me to readjust my organisation and diary management system. Not only I am busy but the older two children are also both busy. Kiara has an extra-murual every single afternoon except Friday and has a sports event most Saturdays. Cameron has extra art/music some afternoons but swims every afternoon/evening Monday to Saturday, swimming season has just started so we have a gala nearly every weekend from now until March next year. Then David is travelling again this month, so I need to keep on top of that.
Most of you are thinking “there is an app to keep track of tall of that” and there probably is but I don’t actually work off my phone. I have tried using my phone – it doesn’t work for me. I forget to check, I get overwhelmed if 5 notifications pop up letting me know xy or z is happing in 10/15/20 minutes. I need to be able to see all the time what is happening.
So what does work for me?
A good old fashioned calendar. I have three months worth of calendars on my desk stuck on the wall. I can see them all day, every day. I add things as they come into my diary. It is a quick and easy way for me to see what is happening on our weekends especially because those are often the biggest challenge.
I write in my diary what is up for the week – what I want to do, who I need to see, appointments etc.
Every morning I ask the kids whats up for the afternoon. Kiara’s stuff is pretty much set but Cameron’s does change depending on if he needs to attend extra art or if there is a project he has to work on. He fortunately has no school sports on this term, only his swimming. David and I also do a quick check in – there are days he drives to Potch or Rustenburg etc.
I also check in with coaches if I am not sure. Kiara’s dance teacher was so great. She sent me whatsapp reminders every day Kiara had to dance for the first week reminding me of the times. It was such a help. Generally schools are slow to inform parents what is happening so now I ask and ask Kiara’s school until I get it. In there case, they are reliant on their sport association but I still remind the coach every time I see him to please send me the schedules. They probably do hide behind the wall when they seem me coming but I am ok with that.
A few of my other quick tips for maintaining your sanity and your kids diaries,
- Find clubs/dance schools that are close to your home!
- Write it down – find something that works for you but you are never going to remember everything, so put it in an app, write it down in a diary.
- Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! With your kids, with your partner, with teachers, with coaches.
- Get help if you need it. Ask a fellow mom to fetch or even a teacher. You are human, you can’t do it all.
- Check newsletters. I never did this until Kiaras VP told me (on a few occasions), it was in the newsletter. So now once a week I scan the previous two newsletters, mark dates, check whats coming up etc.
- Say no. It is ok, to say NO on occasion when it gets too much. If your child misses one swimming lesson or extra maths class, the world will not stop turning. So if its too much, just say no, regroup and try again tomorrow.
At least I have about 3 more years before Jack starts with anything after school because let me tell I can’t even imagine adding a third diary to the list.
Are you managing more than one child’s diary? How do you do it?
My 3 are crazy – our saving grace is that the boys activities are mostly the same – apart from 4 items. A is crazy but our au pair just just manages. We use weekends for academic catch up.