By Stacy DeBroff 

Because we live in such a fast-paced society, moms today work harder than ever before. There is often so much to do that it is nearly impossible to keep track of it all. Creating a monthly calendar can help.

• Find a month by month calendar that allots enough space for each day that you can write several activities into it. Hang it in a central location, close to a telephone, so if somebody calls to confirm or reschedule you can make the change immediately.

• Include the phone number for appointments and engagements you want to confirm so you do not need to look up the number again.

• Assign each family member a different colored pencil for recording activities and commitments. That way you can tell at a glance who in your family needs to be where and when.

• In January, mark down all birthdays and other special occasions for the year, with a reminder one week in advance to send a card or gift.

• If you have room, add a list of the most important tasks for the week.

• Get in the habit of checking your family calendar every night as you prepare for the coming day.

• Once every two weeks check the dates for which you’ll need babysitting and call to schedule sitters all at once.

Things to Put on Your Family Calendar

School-Related
• Every school event, with a note for days you’ve volunteered to help
• When your child brings home reminders from school, read them with a highlighter in hand to mark important dates or items needed and to make it easier to transfer the critical information to your family calendar.
• Changes in school transportation arrangements
• Days that you need to pack a lunch
• Parent-teacher meetings
• School vacation dates
• Items your child needs to bring to school on a particular day: such as a shirt for a tie-dye project in art, show-and-tell, or sneakers for gym class
• Carpool information

Library Books
• Write a reminder of due dates of library books in your calendar the moment you bring them home from the library.

Babysitting Help
• Days and hours that a babysitter is scheduled
• Child care arrangements for vacation weeks if you’re working

Work and Social Engagements
• Business trips, business dinners, or social engagements that are going to impact the life of the family
• Birthdays and anniversaries
• Birthday parties, with all the details from the invitation noted on the calendar. Clip party invitations to the calendar or to a nearby magnet until the event passes.
• Holidays, family events
• Visits from friends or relatives

Activities
• After-school activities and programs
• Sports practices and events
• Lessons
• Performances

Appointment Reminders
• When to call to schedule medical and dental appointments
• Days that you need to send a note into school with your child
• Haircuts

Home and Car Maintenance Reminders
• Vehicle tune-ups and safety inspections
• Annual home maintenance items, such as changing air filters and having the gutters cleaned and the chimneys swept
• When your smoke alarm batteries need to be checked
• When the contents of your poison control kit expire

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