Parent’s Tips for Mastering Back To School / Family Command Center (part 4 of 4)

In the final segment of our 4 part Mastering Back to School series, we look at how a complete, visible and really functional Family Command Center can be a game-changer for keeping track of all the activity that comes up during the school year. Yes, if you’re tech savvy, there are some great options with digital family calendars like these.  5 Best Shared Calendar Apps  Sometimes though, a physical Family...

Parent’s Tips for Mastering Back To School / Setting Routines (part 3 of 4)

Can you hear it? Wait – listen closely …. its the faint call of teacher’s voices, school bells and zipping up of overstuffed backpacks in the oh so near future!!   In segment 3 of our series of back to school tips we look at setting routines and the giant benefits you and your kids can derive from routine.  Routine doesn’t mean rigid or tedious – the opposite in fact is true.  When...

Parent’s Tips for Mastering Back To School – Organized Spaces (part 2 of 4)

Mastering back to school starts with having organized spaces to make life easier & more functional for everyone in the family.  Creating go-to systems and spaces helps take the stress and hassle out of the back to school process – – who couldn’t use a little more  calm in the morning? Here are four examples of what I mean: Dedicate a homework area – create a space with a clear...

Tips for Mastering Back To School / School Supplies! (part 1 of 4)

Well parents – the finish line is in sight! The end of the rainbow! The light at the end of tunnel!  School is about to start after a long, hot summer!  Yipppeeeeee!!! You likely have received a supplies list from your kids’ teachers, but just in case, here are some of the most popular items: To save time and hassles: Take a look around & reuse/repurpose as much as you can from your home’s...

Just Enough Really Is Enough…

A month or so back, I visited my niece Julia in Seattle – she was staying in a short term apartment rental for 3 months while studying there.  I fell in love with the simplicity and functionality of her kitchen, and it reminded me that it perfectly exemplified how “just enough really is enough”.  She had 8 large plates, small plates, bowls, and mugs.  She had the standard necessary utensils, along with 3...