Harried and stressed parents think in terms of work versus family. Busy and organized parents think in terms of work and family. Use the following tips to organize your life and balance your responsibilities.

Nobody's perfect.

	Set reasonable goals and expectations for yourself at home and at work.
	Ask yourself the "what will happen" question ... for example, if you're pressed for time, what will happen if you don't clean the garage today?
	Don't try to be perfect.  An orderly house is nice, but there are times when the dishes can wait.

Let's talk.

	Hold family meetings to talk about issues that affect the entire family.  Make sure everyone gets a chance to talk, especially the children.
	Maintain a calendar of activities so everyone knows what's coming up and what they have to do.
	Set aside family time each day to talk with your partner and children about what's important in life.
	Plan at least one family meal a day.  Family rituals - pizza Wednesday, Friday movies - are fun and foster a sense of family togetherness.
	Spend one-on-one time with each child.

Organize! Organize! Organize!

	Streamline your life and set priorities.
	Know your limits.  Learn to say NO to unnecessary infringements on your time.
	Share household responsibilities and tasks.  Younger children like charts that list everyone's chores.
	Cook in quantities so you have easy, nutritious meals available when you're pressed for time.
	Find safe, dependable child care.  Take your time evaluating care providers in the beginning; it will pay dividends later.  Develop a plan for backup care.
	Anticipate problems and conflicts at work and home and feel confident in your ability to resolve them.
	Streamline your life and set priorities.