So seriously how do you stay on top of it?

lamplighter

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 1:18 pm

I only have 4 kids and I feel like I've never got it fully together.
There are always tons of appointments, doctors, dentists, therapists, specialists, for me, for my husband, for the kids. How do you coordinate it all? How do you remember to make them all?
It feels like non stop errands, shopping, paperwork, appointments, events. I can never get ahead.
What's your best system?

Optione

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 1:22 pm

Pen and paper. Lists, calendars, etc

shanarishona

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 1:31 pm

I also feel like that! Especially with making and going to appointments!

lamplighter

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 1:39 pm

Optione wrote:

Pen and paper. Lists, calendars, etc

Do you have a list of types of things you need to do at some point?

At some point they need dentist appointments.
At some point they need to follow up with the allergist ENT, etc.
At some point they need eye doctor appointments
At some point they need an orthodontist.
They need coats before it gets cold
Bla bla bla

The actual daily stuff or once it's been scheduled I have it on a list or calendar but remembering all the thousand details of each kids needs overwhelms me.

lamplighter

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 1:57 pm

I realized I'm going to get very few responses because this is no amother in this section. Argh. Wonder how I can move it?

flowerpower

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 2:03 pm

lamplighter wrote:

I worked out a system in my head and so far so good. Like yearly well visits are in July. Dentist appointments are in December and June( when they’re off). I have a calendar hanging in a corner kitchen cabinet and write in all appointments and simchas. I check it every Sunday. Ortho appointment is after the dentist says I can make one already...

Optione

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 2:04 pm

lamplighter wrote:

Besides the calendar, I have a To Do list.

Ex: To Do This Week
Make dentist appointments
Follow up with allergist
Follow up with ENT
Buy coats for children A and B
Organize coat closet

Every day I try to cross off one or 2 tasks. Slow, steady, and consistent.

zaq

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 2:20 pm

List lists and more lists plus a good planning calendar with
—lots of space for writing daily plans and info,
—a section to mark month by month obligations and plans for the next calendar year,
—one for addresses, emails and phone numbers plus other info like insurance numbers, and
—one for long-range obligations and plans more than a year away like your next tetanus shot (five years from now).

Use sticky notes for very temporary info like your shopping list for the day or errand reminders. If the post office is near the medical imaging place, for example, make a note to buy stamps when you go for your mammogram.

Make appts for your whole crew at one time so you and the kids see the dentist or get eye exams together, or at least all the kids in one trip.

Scotty

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 2:53 pm

First of all, it is ABSOLUTELY overwhelming. Some years I manage to juggle, some years I don’t (and the pediatrician is horrified we missed checkups and all I can say is, “everyone made it to school and work with clothes on and some food in their bellies, I’m trying my best.”) But it gets better as you learn more and kids get older snd can help themselves with a lot of the smaller logistical issues that consume you when they are small (like feeding themselves or going to the bathroom themselves or even putting their dirty clothes in the hamper!)

That being said what I have found working for me is:

1. A master planner. a6 size from Amazon, six hole punch, small enough to fit in my pocket book and carry EVERYWHWERE but large enough to write in comfortably.

(This is mine:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod.....1a462)

buy empty calendar pages from Amazon (I find these best for my needs because they’re uncluttered snd simple to read)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod.....241db

Then:
When kids school calendars come in the mail, I write down ALL vacations half days etc
When I’m making appointments by dr, out comes the planner on the spot.
EVERYTHING goes in there. Shabbat guests, candle lighting times, simchas, appointments, everything.
I also have blank papers to scribble notes on for appointments (doctor recommendations etc) but I’m thinking of switching to my phone notes app for that.

2. TO DO: everything I have to do gets typed in a Notes doc on my iPhone app. I divide by day - Monday, Tuesday, etc - Ans update at night (any time I take a shower or bathroom or whatever.) I find that writing on paper means I lose the paper then I’m back to square one!
I’ll also keep an errand sub heading and phone call subheading and try to keep track on calls and errands that way.

All papers etc that come home or bills in mail go in a small inbox I have on my small kitchen counter (valuable real estate but worth it) - it has a Section for scissors and a section for pens and pencils, so I guess it’s the equivalent of my junk drawer also… I try to emptiness in box once a week, it’s a new system so so far I can’t tell you if it is working… But at least it gets all the mail and papers off my counter so I can try to cook supper!

Medical bills I keep in the looseleaf in a side table in my living room. Also insurance EOBs. I was inspired by I’m a mother to invest the hours it took to set that up but I’m so grateful I did, they were taking over my life :-)

Hatzlocha!!!

mindyme

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 3:14 pm

LISTS LISTS LISTS
I use sticky notes on main list for super important/urgent things
daven
try your best

hodeez

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 3:15 pm

I have my fair share of breakdowns but everything gets done somwhow in the end.

SuperWify

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 3:17 pm

The dentists and eye doctors normally email you when it’s time for a checkup. I’d never reminder otherwise.

I use google calendar. You can share it with your husband.

tp3

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 3:25 pm

Well visits right after pesach.
Dentist right after sukkos and pesach.
Specialist appts I make at the end of our visit there.
Coats we try on chol hamoed sukkos to see what fits who and who needs new.
Eye dr appts after Pesach
What else?
After so many years it's become routine. I don't have to think much about it. Just like we check our kids' shoes after the summer to see if they need new before the start of the school year. That doesn't need to go on a list, it's obvious.
I mark appts down on my calendar app as I make them so I don't forget. I try to use drs as local as possible to minimize the shlep.

Plonis

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 3:28 pm

Who says we stay on top of it?

Sunny Days

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 4:14 pm

If you spend time on imamother then that should take care of reminders. Just follow the thread titles.

Coat purchases? When you’re shvitzing in July

Purim prep? Isru chag sukkos

Pesach cleaning/preparing salt water? Sometime mid august- just as you’re done tackling the 9 days mountains loads.

Dentist? Eye dr? When someone in your country asks for a recommendation.

I hope this helps Smile

chocolate moose

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 7:25 pm

My kids didn't get to see an orthodontist. DD got braces as an adult when she could take care of it herself.

Thankfully, we didn't need that many specialists and appointments but whatever we did need, we found doctors who worked at night and weekends. We split some of them up - DH took a kid to one and I did the other.

In NYC there is no shortage of choices, BH.

small bean

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 7:58 pm

The routine appointments I make as soon as we do the last one. So at the dentist for 6 month cleaning, I set up the next one. The additional things, I take one day at a time. And if I forgot today, there is always tomorrow.

nicole81

Sun, Oct 17 2021, 8:15 pm

lamplighter wrote:

I use providers that either make our next appointment at check out, or send a postcard when it's time for an appointment that I never made. I'd never keep up otherwise.