Keeping track of their school & other lives -how??

[EbenyZebraScrooge]

I just find it so hard to keep track of what DS is doing at school every day, esp. this time of year. Which bags to take, what extra things to take, what extra things are on each day. I'm trying to keep a diary just for him, but I still forget some days.

Plus I have work (part-time) to juggle, and 2 other children under 4. It will only get more complicated when they're all at school. DS doesn't do any homework, after-school or extra-curricular stuff, either, yet. Doesn't have much social life because I don't know the other mums, yet (not really). I desperately want him to have the chance to do a lot/have a full life, but I can't imagine getting it all organised for 3 children?! and still hold down a job & keep some semblance of order in the rest of my life.

Is there a secret to keeping track of their lives & still having one of your own?

When I find one you'll be the 1st to know! I forgot DS PE kit twice this week! DOH!

I great big wall planner?!

I'll be with you by next Sept as ds1 goes to school and I'll still have a 2.5 yr old and 1 yr old! Help!

Message withdrawn

You can get family organisers in WHSmiths for about £4. They only have 5 spaces though.

I swear by my calendar. Only thing I need to do now is to remember to look at it!

I'm useless with children's activities, and my kids have inherited this uselessness.

I try to put everything - especially things like dental appointments - on Microsoft Outlook's calender (I spend enough time at the computer, I have no excuse), which I then synchronise with my mobile phone.

But it's not foolproof as I need to remember to look at the calender at least weekly.

I have a wipeboard next to our door so list each day and what ds normally needs to take. For ad hoc stuff I stick post-its to the door.

I use the 'bits of paper stuck everywhere with bluetac' method, it doesn't work, especially when 12m/o DD gets her hands on them and attempts to eat them! That family calendar idea is brill, I think I will invest in one of those!!!

As well as a calendar for unusual events, I also do a detailed chart of the regular things they need to take to school and elsewhere, which is pinned up in the hall, so that I can quickly check their bags.

Another tip is as soon as possible get them taking responsibility for their own things, and explaining the chart to them, and getting them to check things themselves.

At our school this 'officially' happens when they go into yr3 (age 7). So now it is not longer my responsibility if he forgets something for school, and I am encouraging him to really do the checking and remembering for himself too.

I use a desk diary - steal it from dh who's electronic IYKWIM

Oh no, what a useless family we are! You're talking about children taking responsibility in Year 3? They must have been checking their Filofaxes while emerging from the womb, they're so organised.

My youngest is in Year 9, and it's still chaos. Year 7 I check the bags for the right books, PE kit etc. Year 8 I only check the PE kit is there. Year 9 they're on their own.

My cast iron rule has been: Get everything packed and ready the night before - saves the last minute morning panic. I know we're not the worst - the youngest comes home in all his own clothes, but also with bits of other boys' uniform.

And don't start me on correct ingredients for food tech - I did question the flapjack recipe that didn't have oats on the ingredients list. Well, they aren't flapjacks, but they did taste good.

Is any other family like this, or are we unique?

I have a big calendar hanging on the back of the front door (or it was until the dog decided to see if it was tasty!). Everything is put on that calendar and each family member has a different coloured highlighter. Their activites are highlighted in their colour and they are encouraged too check the calendar every day to see if they need to organise something - or to check for the following day.

DS1 will be going to secondary school next year and I've told him that saying Mum didn't do x or Mum didn't remind me won't cut much ice with his teachers there.

I have to say that since I've been using the calendar, they haven't forgotten anything, but unfortunately I have .