The Calendar Chaos
If you have more than one kid, you know the struggle: multiple schools, multiple calendars, multiple sources of truth.
Your phone calendar has different events in different colors. Google calendar has school events. One kid's PTO has a separate calendar link. Another is shared via Facebook.
It's not just a schedule; it's a cognitive load that most parents carry 24/7. It's a mess.
The System That Works
After years of trial and error, we've landed on a system that actually works. Here's how to implement it:
1. One Master Calendar
Everything goes into one calendar. Not your personal calendar. A separate "Family" calendar that syncs to your phone, your partner's phone, and anywhere else you need it.
Google Calendar or Apple Calendar work great for this. The key is one source of truth.
2. Color Code by Kid
Each child gets a specific color. This allows for instant visual scanning to see whose schedule is packed:
- Emma: Blue
- Jake: Green
- Lucy: Purple
3. Include Non-School Events
This is the game changer: baseball games, doctor appointments, and playdates all go in the same place. This is how you actually see when the family is overbooked before it happens.
The Tools That Help
Getting events into the calendar is the hard part. That's where automation matters.
School TLDR handles the school part. Every important date is automatically detected and ready to add to your calendar with one tap.
For other events (sports, activities), set up recurring calendar invites or use your team communication tool to push events automatically.
The Key Principle
One calendar. All events. One source of truth. Everything else follows.
Once you implement this system, you'll never miss a deadline again. And more importantly, your family will stop being reactive and start being proactive about schedules.