Pocket calendars

My Mom used to be organized, unflappable, and under control. Then us kids came along. Now our dear Mother doesn't have a chance. Between trying to keep up with us and her day job, not to mention whatever might be going on with Dad, she seems ready to pull her hair out. She claims she enjoys being our Mother, though sometimes she misses the easy life. The problem, she says, is that there's no way she can keep everything straight and that sanity is a fleeting commodity.

We found a solution. It's a 2010 Family Wall Pocket Organizer. Its a pocket calendars with space to track 5 family member's activities every day of the week plus tabs for important names and contact information. You don't have to write every activity because there are over 400 little stickers to use for repeating activities. There is plenty of space for notes and it is magnetic so it sticks to the refrigerator but comes off easily for updates. It makes a big difference in our lives, and our dear Mom feels a little more under control. At least, she says, she can see all the problems in one place.

It's an issue to get everyone to write their activities on the calendar, so we have a weekly family council to make sure we are coordinated. We love the little stickers and have started having fun with the planning time. It helps us be ready for those times when Mom has to be in 2 (or 3, or 4) places at the same time. There are some conflicts, but at least we know about them in advance.