This year, 11 years into parenting, I've finally found a system for keeping track of weekly events and chores which works well for our family - most of the time. It sits on our fridge and looks like this:
The pretty colours make me want to look at it, and the colour coding makes it easy to read. I used to have a separate chart for each child, but all those bits of paper floating around the fridge made me crazy, and no-one ever looked at them. So I've given each child a colour, and put all the kids on one chart.
Our chart includes nearly everything that happens week-by-week in our house: chores, homework tasks, sports days - all the things I usually forget completely. It's become a habit to glance at it every morning, and I forget a lot less share times and library days now (although I did forget Thomas' library books yesterday, and I'll often ignore a chore or 3, so it's far from infallible!).
Still, our chart keeps me honest, keeps chores on my mental map, and reminds me of things that would otherwise go forgotten. It's a system I plan to keep using.
What's your system for remembering chores and other stuff?
9 comments:
That looks so lovely and neat Jean - I'm envious! How do you manage the extras/irregular stuff? I feel like almost every day someone has something extra to take or a note to hand in or has to be early at school for an extra rehearsal. I haven't worked out how to manage all that yet.
I don't, that's why I need my chart! :) Seriously, I am by nature totally bad at this kind of stuff. I handle it by having piles of messy paper all over the place (just ask my husband) - reminder notes to myself, piles of notices to fill in, unopened bills ... I'm not a paragon of order at all! Maybe I'll put a photo of the piles near my phone next time - that will bring some reality to my blog! :)
I have a calendar (one of those ones with 5 columns) where I write everything sporadic, and I try to hand notices in as soon as I get them (although just the other day I only just made it in time...). I don't know if there's any way to keep track of it all unless you want to be an organisation goddess with a "control centre" or a "daily planner" or that kind of thing. Never worked for me. So I just try to keep on top of it all, and manage somehow, most of the time! :)
Not much help, am I?! It does get easier, though, especially as kids get older and remind you of stuff themselves...heaven.
Jean, love the chart. Colour-coding soothes the savage beast in our house.
Jenny, on option might be to laminate the chart. The you could add irregular notes with a whiteboard marker and wipe off when done.
That's a great idea, Deb!
I like the laminating idea Deb - all I have to do is have the energy to actually fill it in - LOL!
Yet another thing I'd never get around to ... *sigh* ...
Actually I've been thinking about this recently. I think I like the kids to remember their things themselves. I do have 4 children and so it's fairly busy so it would be craziness to try and remember everything. I guess this has been my principle once they start school.
Recently one son who's 8 forgot his bathers for swimming, then he forgot it the next time. I almost buckled under and reminded him as I know how much he loves swimming. Since then he hasn't forgotton and using this process means I don't have to remind my kids of anything and it means they're responsible from the outset.
Very nice and simple, Jean! I am famous for making beautiful, elaborate charts and then never following them. Making them is the highlight -- they look beautiful and help me imagine being organized! I also relate to putting charts up and no one ever looking at them. I even forget they are there! I am in the process of putting together our schedule for the new school year, so your ideas will come in handy!
Juli-anne, I agree in theory - just not so good at this in practice!
Thanks, Valori, hope your plans go well. I was just thinking of you the other day! :)
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