Here we are already 12 days into January 2007. One of the best ways to stay on track in a busy family is to keep yourself organized.

1.) A date book calendar or a desk calendar would be the perfect way to keep appointments and important dates, available at your fingertips. An accordion file folder or if you can buy a file cabinet for your family. Might be an awesome idea for keeping a file open for each child that can hold medical papers and important school forms.

2.) An up to date telephone book with important numbers for family members, support people and fire rescue and police. All should be posted clearly on the front page of the phone book. Along with the family doctors name, phone number and address.

3). Menu calendars are also a good way of planning meals and helping you to know what to shop for when you are planning your weekly grocery shopping.

4). Setting aside one month like February or March and getting everyone their yearly medical or dental check up appointments may also be a good idea.

5). A house cleaning general schedule where cleaning can rotate from child to child each day is also a good plan. Then no one gets tired of one daily job or gets stuck doing what they don't enjoy to often. It also offers them a complete experience of cleaning a whole house.

6). Setting up a schedule for a Co-Cheff to help each night with diner is also a great idea. Even a five year old can help set the table and help clear the dishes after diner. They also enjoy learning new things with mom or dad.

7). Older children should learn to co-manage other children also. By making sure chores get completed, and things are running smoothly.

8). Remember mom and dad you can not do everything for everyone. So teaching your older children to help by learning to delegate duties is a very important thing. It opens the doors to Management and self motivation for the real world as job references.

It is funny how just a few good plans and rules can help life seem so much easier. It is never to late to start. Get organized and see how it can benefit your family time.