Thank you for all of your encouragement and help. I have had my ups and downs along the way for about seven years, but the calendar habit has stuck with me. It has gone from an early milestone marker for my now 12-year-old DD (and now my 4-year-old DS) to a schedule keeper for my active middle-schooler and my disabled husband’s many appointments.

Every July (or sometimes August- but I’m not behind), I order your calendar and start setting it up a little at a time to get ready for school in September. While I admit to a few perfectionistic marathon sessions with different color gel pens and stickers, I generally chose some defined task (like marking the school calendar for 3, not 12, months of birthdays). I sit down in the evening after dinner and do that one thing. It is very difficult to stop at the end, but I try to force myself. Then I put away the schedules, stickers, etc. (also difficult not to “just leave here until tomorrow . . .”) until the next session — not every day, but the idea is to use August as a planning month and start the new calendar in September. Then I hang the new calendar with the old to “catch” any September appts.

Then, when the slew of new schedules come with the start of school (soccer, musical, choir, volunteer, etc.), I am usually about 15 minutes away from catching up the calendar.

This year, I am trying to do it without using whiteout etc. and leaving scribbles when necessary (a big challenge). Also, this August I am going to teach my DD how to enter her rehearsal etc. schedules in the Cozi calendar so we both show up in the right place at the right time, and we are trying to use a custom “to do” list to help her manage her own after school routine (with no nagging from me). She and I are going to also plan some “go to” lunch ideas so she can take some charge of packing her own without whining about what is available (and wanting to order instead). I am hoping to encourage habits by example and lovingly help her SHE ways as you encourage all of us.

Thank you for these wonderful tools that accommodate our lifestyle and encourage peace rather than CHAOS.

Laura fluttering away in NJ