Each fall presents new challenges
- Karen Wilson: Family Corner
- August 14, 2018
- 1748
I swear summer gets shorter and goes faster every year. Just when I find myself really settling into the rhythms of summer, fall starts peaking around the corner and reminding me of a return to a more structured schedule.
For families with children, the start of school makes a major impact. And, of course, no two years are quite the same.
Older kids can become more independent while younger ones may just be beginning their school experience. Those nearing adulthood may be headed for college or technical school.
It’s time to review the family’s organization, scheduling and responsibilities.
The big change for us this year is having both of our sons in college. Although they will still live at home, their time will be much more consumed by class requirements. So they will have considerably less time for farm chores and other projects.
Consequently we are in the process of reviewing all the house and farm tasks. Some short chores will still fit as study breaks, but other bigger endeavors will have to be handled differently.
I have been in the habit of leaving a daily list for each boy with reminders, chores, appointments and whatever. Now as they manage their own schedules more, we will probably agree on weekly responsibilities they can complete when their time permits.
In whatever stage you find your family, there are some essential tools to set in place.
One is the family calendar. There are myriad electronic versions. If you find one you like, use it. I’m still a fan of a big paper calendar. We note appointments, deadlines, farm notes and events on it.
To get started, try to collect the schedules for everyone’s classes, after-school activities and events so you can sort everything at once. Many people find color coding for each person helpful.
Get everyone in the habit of looking at the calendar. Whether it is electronic or paper, put it where everyone will see it regularly. In our case that means it’s on the side of the refrigerator, beside the coffee pot, a place my kids are sure to see it. It sounds basic, but no calendar will work unless everyone reviews it regularly, preferably daily.
Of course all the coming and going requires coordination. If your kids are younger, juggling drivers can get complicated, but planning ahead will help. In the case of older kids with driver’s licenses, it’s making sure cars are available and running when needed.
Don’t forget smooth mornings start the night before. Designate a place for backpacks, purses and briefcases so they are ready to pick up in the morning. Make sure everything that’s needed is in the appropriate bag before putting the bag in place.
If you have a secure place for your vehicle, go ahead and put things in it so they don’t need additional thought.
Prepare things for lunches the night before. You may want to actually pack them in the morning so items stay cool.
Hang out clothes for work, workouts and school. Make sure items are ready to wear. The less you have to think about in the morning the better. And who wants to iron first thing in the morning?
Don’t forget the shoes. Have them ready to go. Because our kids would rather go without, we have had to work on this one a lot over the years.
Each fall presents new challenges, so think ahead, discuss changes with your family and adjust as necessary. Make sure you keep the basics in place so things flow smoothly.