Scheduling and Time Management Molly Gold, Founder of GO MOM !NC, is the creator of The GO MOM!® Planner, the ultimate catch-all day planner for everything that is family. Molly is recognized as an expert on scheduling issues unique to moms. Being in Two Places at Once Question: I have a daughter and a son and they both seem to go in opposite directions. When one has an after-school band practice the other has to be across town for soccer practice. I'm either early picking one up or late picking the other up. How can I be in two places at once? - Lilly Answer: How many times have we all said "If only there were 2 of me!" in absolute frustration? One to go to work while the other covers home, one to do the laundry while the other gets groceries, one to go to soccer while the other covers band. Alas, Calgon can't quite take us away to that land of Multiple Moms, so we are left juggling family demands with just one busy body! Try these steps to conquer the Multiple Mom Syndrome and see if you can spread yourself a bit more effectively. Step 1: Talk to your children about your family as a unit, how each schedule impacts the others and that flexibility and cooperation are key. Part of cooperation might be having to arrive early and wait for a sibling or possibly leave early to make it to the next event on time. Another component is sacrifice. Like it or not, we have to choose one child's event and not the other. Explain to both children that although band practice is important, the soccer match is also important. This time soccer, next time band. Remind them that in choosing the event, you are not choosing one child over another, simply taking turns. Keep track of your attendance so you rotate accordingly, making sure the children know you value their activities equally. Step 2: Enlist the help of others to cover your bases. First, investigate carpool options with other parents of the children involved in both activities. You might find that you can start off at one event and end up at the other, relying on carpools to safely transport your kids in your absence. You also might consider inviting a grandparent, favorite aunt, or even your best friend to act as your stand-in, cheering and supporting your champ all along while you provide the same across town. Remind your kids that it truly does "take a village" and they are fortunate to have an extended network of caring relatives and friends to support them. Through the family meeting you can demonstrate valuable lessons about prioritizing and planning ahead to allow the most positive end result, looking at the family as a whole and meeting multiple demands at various levels. Teaching kids how to bend in the wind and be flexible on behalf of others, realizing that delayed gratification will come, lays a foundation of confidence and mutual support. What better way for the Multiple Mom to reveal herself by teaching more than one life lesson at a time! Also see: Ask Molly your questions Recently answered questions Buy the Go Mom® Planner