Juggling your children’s schedules during the school year is difficult enough, but if you are also going through divorce, coordinating schedules may be even more complicated than usual. In addition to after-school activities, play dates and parent-teacher meetings, you may need to keep track of who is picking up your kids, who will attend special events and where the kids will sleep at night.
As if keeping track of everyone’s schedules wasn’t hard enough, you may also feel obligated to remind everyone what the plan is on any given day. While it is one thing to remind your kids about the day’s schedule, you probably don’t want to call your ex-spouse every day to hash out scheduling details. Fortunately, there are many available tech tools that can help.
Some of the best free apps that can streamline scheduling include:
- Google Calendar
- Cozi
- SquareHub
Sometimes a simple tool is all that you need
Although Google Calendar may be the least flashy apps on the list, simple tools sometimes are the most appropriate. Google calendar allows you to make your own calendar and share editing permissions with your ex, so you can both make changes to it. You may consider making a few calendars to organize different types of events. For example, you may have one calendar for your custody schedule and another for your children’s activities.
Having everything in one place has its advantages
Cozi allows you to include each family member’s events in one color-coded calendar. Each family member can have access to the same calendar, so everyone will be on the same page. You can even program reminders for important events. This app also allows you to store lists, such as grocery lists, to-do lists or packing lists.
Older children may want more involvement with scheduling
If you have older kids or teenagers, you may prefer an option that allows more fluid communication. Square Hub is a private social network that you can design just for your family. It allows each family member to send messages, coordinate schedules, and share photos all in one place. It is designed to be safe for children, and includes a check-in feature, so you can know your kids are safe, even when they are not with you.
Managing schedules can be difficult during the school year when everyone in the family is busy. It can be even more challenging when divorce has caused changes to your family’s normal routines. However, a clever app may be able to help you get organized. If you find a system that works for your situation, it may help your whole family stay on track throughout the school year.