Chapter Summary

In this chapter, you saw many of the subtleties that go into creating the ultimate family schedule. It isn't rocket science, but it does require a conscious analysis of how your family's required tasks and optional activities mesh with the abilities, interests, personalities, and rhythms of your family members individually and collectively.

You can use the following checklist to make sure that you've fine-tuned your family's schedule as much as possible.

• Consider family members' body clocks, environmental preferences, and personalities when creating their schedules.

• Suspend the family's regular schedule when major events warrant it.

• Modify your planner system if a change will improve its use.

• Adjust the family's schedule if it isn't running as smoothly as you would like.

We would like to conclude by reminding you that your family's planning tools and schedule need to change over time as your family grows and changes. You would be wise to plan periodically to sit and contemplate how your family's schedule is working and to tweak it slightly or revamp it significantly as your circumstances indicate. Throughout your family's life, new scheduling challenges will always arise, but now you're equipped to meet those challenges, to analyze your options, and to organize your family's schedule in no time.