Embracing the Joy of Planning
I actually love planning and scheduling. I consider it fun. I would not say that I’m overly organized in any other area of life, but there is something about a well thought out plan. Admittedly, I’m better at planning a project than completing it though. I learned early in life how useful spreadsheet tools could be and taught myself Excel. It has come in handy in so many areas. For example, not many planners are built for balancing the schedules of four different people at the same time, so I created my own. However, you don’t have to be an expert in Excel to make a workable schedule.
Crafting a Master Schedule
What worked for me was breaking down the days into time blocks and then having one column for myself and each of my kids. I color coded my kids, but you do have to go that far! This helped me see what each of us were doing at each hour of the day. For instance, one child would be working on a reading assignment while the other was doing an online class. I could see who needed me at different times to ensure that I was able to be there for that child without outside interference. I could also see where I had pockets of time for work. I could proactively schedule independent work for each of the kids at the same time, freeing me up for projects or teaching.
This spreadsheet served as our Master Schedule. I hung it up so that the kids could see what they were supposed to be working on during each period of the day and when I was available. I also made individual schedules for their rooms, which saved me from having to guide them every hour of the day. This approach not only saved time and energy for me, but also taught my kids valuable time management skills.
The Role of Planners
In addition to our master schedule, I kept a daily planner for myself. Over the years, I have experimented with many different planners, and someday hope to review them to share how I made them work for me. In these planners, I jotted down new activities that came up that I would need to fit in, and everything I needed to do.
Writing things down is crucial. As a busy parent and sole income earner, there are many responsibilities to manage, too many to keep all in your head. You will almost always forget things that way. I kept a master list of everything I needed to do in one area. As thoughts popped up, I would add them to the master list without needing to decide how I would accomplish them. The main purpose is just to get the thought down on paper and out of your head. Then, when I was planning my day, I could look over my master list and transfer those tasks I felt I could reasonably accomplish to my daily planner. Doing it this way allowed me to focus on a few tasks at a time without feeling overwhelmed by a gigantic list. Plus, it feels incredibly satisfying to cross items off your list. Having fewer items on the daily list allowed me to cross off most items, which in turned helped me to feel successful. I felt happy with what I had accomplished instead of overwhelmed with everything I had left to do.
Planners as Keepsakes
Planners can also serve as cherished keepsakes. It might be hard to imagine that your lists of chores, errands, and work activities would be looked back on with fondness, but life with kids changes so fast. Your life is never the same from one year to the next. The kids get older, and activities evolve. I now love looking through my previous planners. I can reminisce about those days when we had to travel all over the county for swim practices because ours was closed for construction. I can remember the fullness of tech week or the craziness of the last days of school. I can also be proud that I made it through those times! Some periods of life feel so challenging that you don’t know how you can make it through. With your planner, you have the benefit of hindsight. You can look back and say, “Wow, look at what we did and all we made it through.” It can help give you the confidence to keep going.
Planning Like Activities Together
The next tip is to plan similar activities together. If you have a master schedule, you will know who needs to be where at certain points in the week. I tried to plan outings and kids’ activities to work together as much as possible. For example, my son had swim practice nearly every day. If I could schedule my daughter’s dance classes at similar times, I could transport them both at once. When I couldn’t combine activities, I could use the time in between for errands or other tasks. If I had an hour while my daughter was dancing, I might pick up groceries or run other errands. If I had three hours while my oldest was at a theater rehearsal two towns over, I would bring my laptop and find a nearby hot spot to get some work done.
Seeking Outside Help
Finally, get outside help whenever possible. We were homeschooling, but that didn’t mean I was their only teacher. My kids had online classes, tutors, and participated in outside activities. Starting in middle school, they took some classes at our local public school, and in high school, they took early college classes. My son even attended a local tech school for two years to learn cybersecurity.
Not only were they able to have outside mentors and experts to teach them, but they had outside accountability and other people to love on them. My daughter actually got to know a middle school math teacher through one of her community theater shows. This wonderful woman took my daughter under her wing when she was taking classes at the middle school, providing her with a sense of belonging and support. Plus, when you are solo parent, it feels SO good when other people love your kids. You feel less alone. Use your outside resources. You are not an island!
Conclusion
Planning and scheduling as a work-from-home mom can be a challenging but rewarding task. By creating a master schedule, using planners, planning similar activities together, and seeking outside help, you can find a balance that works for you and your family. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect. Give yourself grace and enjoy the journey. Your efforts today are creating a foundation for a successful and fulfilling future for both you and your children.
Work at Home Widow 