Organizing a Family
I have a smart phone. I love it. I have all my contacts on the phone. I text friends so they have the option of responding then or later when it is more convenient for them. My calendar is also on the phone. There have been times when my husband has made appointments for the kids and I have to change them because there are already things going on at that time. (Note: he refuses to use the calendar on his phone.) I also have games for when I am bored. My kindle books can be downloaded to my phone. I have notes galor, so if any questions come up about info for my kids or husband (medications, past appointments, their friends, etc.), I can pull it up immediately. I practically have my entire life on my phone. So do I need another master list of all of this? Should I set up a calendar, phone list, to do list, grocery list, medication list, and any thing else that is used on a regular basis, somewhere in my home? Would my family use it? Would they check the calendar to see what was happening the next day or week? Would they add things to the grocery list? Right now, they just kind of yell when they use the last of something as they walk out of the kitchen. I have seen others that use a large three ring binder with everything in it. Yet when they are away from home, they have a small calendar that they check. If asked to attend or do something on a particular day, they will look at their calendar and give a tentative answer. Nothing is definite until they are able to check their binder at home. To me that is doing things twice. Also, have everything on my phone and in a binder at home would require doing things twice. Every time I add something to the shopping list, I would have to make sure it was on both lists. All appointments would have to be written down in both places, or canceled in both if the need arises. So do I continue to be the family organizer, work on getting them to help organize? One extra thought: I have gotten more calls from doctor's offices the day before an appointment for my husband to confirm said appointment, to realize he never told me or wrote it on the family calendar. He would just bring home the card with the date and time written on it, and maybe just maybe he would put that card on the bulletin board.
Well, with five people to organize, the solution will have to be found. I will try to do both my phone and a master list at home for now. After a few months, at least four, I will see how things are working. I promise to myself, that no matter how frustrated I get, I will do this for at least four months. So good luck to me, and may God give me the strength to persevere.
