Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:54
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Some of you people must have a brood as big as the Duggers!
Nah! We are just trying to be good at everything and that needs some solid organization!!
The Duggars' lives revolved around home and church. Not that that makes their lives easy, but they established the family schedule and stuck to it. Those of us who work outside of the home and drive our kids all over the DMV in our "free" time for activities are keeping up with schedules we do not play a role in setting, so we need a plan to stay on top of things.
Well said. And not every plan works for every family. The idea is to share tricks and tips and take only what will work for our own situation.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:51
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Anonymous wrote:I have a HS student and a grade school student, and I work PT at home. My daily goals are:
1. To have a home-made dinner that is ready in 30 minutes or less;
2. To make sure grade school student has done all homework, and has showered, if necessary. HS student is, and should be, completely self-sufficient, I don't even know what her homework is most days;
3. To put grade schooler's lunch bag on counter with juice box in it so I don't forget to pack in morning. Rest of lunch (bag of chips, apple slices, cookie, etc. will be thrown into bag 30 minutes before kid walks out the door to bus;
4. To make sure any paperwork stuff (field trip forms, etc.) are filled out and done before I got to bed;
5. Relax and enjoy my time with family before we have to wake up and do it all over again.
I am much more than the school lists I keep. OP, you can be, too.
Your job is to make a 30 minute home-made dinner and pack a school lunch which has a cookie, bag of chips, apple slices and juice box! Sister, you are living a charmed life!!
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:43
Subject: Re:What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Not really a parenting tip but a juggling tip. I have flipped how I do chores to have more time with my kids. Laundry, dishes and minor house straightening happen in the evening when I have least amount of energy and I want to make sure that the kids are sitting down doing their homework. Dinner gets cooked early in the morning along with the breakfast and packing everyones lunch boxes.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:41
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
I have a HS student and a grade school student, and I work PT at home. My daily goals are:
1. To have a home-made dinner that is ready in 30 minutes or less;
2. To make sure grade school student has done all homework, and has showered, if necessary. HS student is, and should be, completely self-sufficient, I don't even know what her homework is most days;
3. To put grade schooler's lunch bag on counter with juice box in it so I don't forget to pack in morning. Rest of lunch (bag of chips, apple slices, cookie, etc. will be thrown into bag 30 minutes before kid walks out the door to bus;
4. To make sure any paperwork stuff (field trip forms, etc.) are filled out and done before I got to bed;
5. Relax and enjoy my time with family before we have to wake up and do it all over again.
I am much more than the school lists I keep. OP, you can be, too.
1. To have a home-made dinner that is ready in 30 minutes or less;
2. To make sure grade school student has done all homework, and has showered, if necessary. HS student is, and should be, completely self-sufficient, I don't even know what her homework is most days;
3. To put grade schooler's lunch bag on counter with juice box in it so I don't forget to pack in morning. Rest of lunch (bag of chips, apple slices, cookie, etc. will be thrown into bag 30 minutes before kid walks out the door to bus;
4. To make sure any paperwork stuff (field trip forms, etc.) are filled out and done before I got to bed;
5. Relax and enjoy my time with family before we have to wake up and do it all over again.
I am much more than the school lists I keep. OP, you can be, too.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:40
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Some of you people must have a brood as big as the Duggers!
Nah! We are just trying to be good at everything and that needs some solid organization!!
The Duggars' lives revolved around home and church. Not that that makes their lives easy, but they established the family schedule and stuck to it. Those of us who work outside of the home and drive our kids all over the DMV in our "free" time for activities are keeping up with schedules we do not play a role in setting, so we need a plan to stay on top of things.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:34
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Anonymous wrote:Some of you people must have a brood as big as the Duggers!
Nah! We are just trying to be good at everything and that needs some solid organization!!
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:32
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Some of you people must have a brood as big as the Duggers!
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:29
Subject: Re:What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Anonymous wrote:Another thing is that, when possible, I've switched to dental/vision/health providers who either have online scheduling or Saturday hours. Our old ped. office didn't start taking calls until 9 a.m., which is well into my work day, and turned off the phones for 1 1/2 hours at lunch. It was too much effort to remember to call to make appointments.
I love online scheduling.
Also, Saturday hours save time. Instead of driving to school, sometimes having to park far away to avoid buses, going into school to sign your child out, back to car and then to orthodontist - you go from home to the ortho office on Saturday or days when the kids are off from school.
I'm also an early riser so I look for businesses that open as early as possible. Less traffic and less wait time. I found someone with online scheduling who starts cutting hair at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and a optician/vision center that also opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
If only Target opened at 7 a.m.
I agree with the online scheduling. I even reserve restaurant tables online.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:23
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
I have a small bag in my car for stuff that my teens will invariably ask for - from safety pins, deodorant wipes, deodorant spray, extra pencils, hand cream to mouthwash.
The other thing is not a parent thing but I keep some really nice cloth wine bags and a few blank cards in my car. If we need to bring a hostess gift etc, we can buy a bottle on wine enroute and then give it to the host in a very nice wine bag, Check out Amazon for a selection of these bags.
The other thing is not a parent thing but I keep some really nice cloth wine bags and a few blank cards in my car. If we need to bring a hostess gift etc, we can buy a bottle on wine enroute and then give it to the host in a very nice wine bag, Check out Amazon for a selection of these bags.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:19
Subject: Re:What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Another thing is that, when possible, I've switched to dental/vision/health providers who either have online scheduling or Saturday hours. Our old ped. office didn't start taking calls until 9 a.m., which is well into my work day, and turned off the phones for 1 1/2 hours at lunch. It was too much effort to remember to call to make appointments.
I love online scheduling.
Also, Saturday hours save time. Instead of driving to school, sometimes having to park far away to avoid buses, going into school to sign your child out, back to car and then to orthodontist - you go from home to the ortho office on Saturday or days when the kids are off from school.
I'm also an early riser so I look for businesses that open as early as possible. Less traffic and less wait time. I found someone with online scheduling who starts cutting hair at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and a optician/vision center that also opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
If only Target opened at 7 a.m.
I love online scheduling.
Also, Saturday hours save time. Instead of driving to school, sometimes having to park far away to avoid buses, going into school to sign your child out, back to car and then to orthodontist - you go from home to the ortho office on Saturday or days when the kids are off from school.
I'm also an early riser so I look for businesses that open as early as possible. Less traffic and less wait time. I found someone with online scheduling who starts cutting hair at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and a optician/vision center that also opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
If only Target opened at 7 a.m.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:16
Subject: Re:What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Jan or Feb is the time that I plan for our vacation as well as summer camps. I need coverage for three kids for the months that school is not in session. I team with the parents of my kids' friends and we register for identified camps together and as early as possible. I have had the pick of summer camps for past 6 years due to this strategy and we also are able to carpool effectively. Kids are happy because they can go to summer camps with their friends.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:11
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
I have bags and/or baskets for things - like my younger DD's daycare stuff has a basket (we have multiple sheets/blankets inc are we forget to wash things). My older DD has a girl scout bag. That sort of thing. But I think most people do this.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:08
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
I feel like things don't really slip through the cracks for me but I don't do half this stuff. Your list is intimidating!
I use the cozi app as a family shared calendar, do online groceries, amazon prime, the usual. I contribute to class gifts at Christmas and end of the year - basically I'm not to send in some cash for the group gift and I do that. I keep a bag per kid per sport in their mudroom locker. All equipment stays there - once jerseys are washed, back to the appropriate bag they go.
Sometimes the dogs fall through the cracks and the vet sends me texts to remind me they need a vaccine or two but I (and they) manage.
I use the cozi app as a family shared calendar, do online groceries, amazon prime, the usual. I contribute to class gifts at Christmas and end of the year - basically I'm not to send in some cash for the group gift and I do that. I keep a bag per kid per sport in their mudroom locker. All equipment stays there - once jerseys are washed, back to the appropriate bag they go.
Sometimes the dogs fall through the cracks and the vet sends me texts to remind me they need a vaccine or two but I (and they) manage.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:06
Subject: What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have the best hack ever, you guys! I HAVE A CALENDAR!!!
+1 FTW. Anything that needs to be tracked or I need a reminder for goes on my ph. calender, along with weekly or yearly recurrences if required. No other system beyond that and this has worked for 2 kids over multiple years.
+2 me too. It has worked great so far.
Anonymous
09/30/2019 15:06
Subject: Re:What are your hacks for being an organized parent during the school year?
Anonymous wrote:I setup all notifications on my cell phone. For example - passport needs to be renewed end of October, will be a notification that will come to me a month and a week before.
However, school related stuff like pay for yearbook, class pictures, exams, field trips, class parties, school donations, PTAs etc. I prefer to do it online. I can do it as soon as I get the notification or end of week.
Yes, this has been a lifesaver for me too. If I can, I just take care of it immediately.
Another thing that helps is setting aside time to read the school newsletter(s) each week. If there is anything you can do online -register for a class, sign a permission slip, authorize flu shot, buy spiritwear, buy homecoming tickets - do it all right there. No need for additional mental clutter.