Surviving the schedule vs. leading the family

“Why does our family calendar feel like chaos?” Moms tell me this with exhaustion in their voices. They're asking the wrong question.

Between school, sports, lessons, and appointments, it feels like you’re managing a full-time logistics company instead of a home.

And of course you feel overwhelmed. Anyone would. Add in the guilt — are you pushing your kids too hard, or not hard enough? — and no wonder it feels like a no-win situation.

Here’s the Create Family way to look at this:

Overscheduling isn’t really about activities. It’s about what you believe those activities are supposed to produce. We’ve been told that every class, every lesson, every sport is shaping our child’s future career. But let’s pull back for a second.

There’s an interview where Kobe Bryant asked Michael Jordan what he was doing as a young teen. You’d expect him to say “playing basketball.” But Jordan’s answer? Baseball. The point: kids don’t have to have their whole career mapped out at 12. They need experiences, skills, and connection.

Did you know over 65% of people who graduate college never use their degree in the field they studied? Lisa Kudrow graduated from Harvard before she found her passion in acting. She went on to make a massive career playing Phoebe, the “dumb blonde” on Friends. Careers shift. Passions evolve. What kids need in childhood isn’t a head start on their résumé. What they need is a family system that builds connection, creativity, and lifelong skills.

That’s where Family Teaming comes in. When your family works together, you can focus on goals that matter: learning household basics, handling finances, building travel memories, cooking meals, even fixing things around the house. These life skills go further than an overstuffed calendar of activities.

And trust me, I know how easy it is to miss some. My boys still tease me that I never let them wrap presents. I was such a perfectionist about it that I always did it myself. They’ll say, “Mom, you denied us our present-wrapping skills!” And they’re right. It’s funny now, but it’s also a reminder: sometimes in our effort to do things “right,” we skip the small learning moments that actually matter.

So how do you shift from chaos to connection? Try these three steps:

• Name the goal for yourself. Write one sentence about the kind of family experiences you want this year. For example: “I want us to cook one meal together every week.”

• Sit down with your family. Share the goal and ask what it would look like to them. One child might want to plan the menu. Another might want to do the grocery list. When they help shape it, they own it.

• Talk about the goal often. Keep it alive in conversation. And when you’re tempted to sign up for one more activity, remind everyone, “This is the direction we’re going.” At the end of the week, validate their growth: “I loved how you learned to make that recipe. You’re really becoming confident in the kitchen.”

This isn’t about closing doors to opportunities. It’s about opening the door to what matters most: family teamwork, connection, and the skills that will last a lifetime.

Feeling like the little things set you off more than they should?

Most reactivity doesn’t actually have to do with your kids. It’s about the weight you’re carrying, the plates stacked too high, the endless pull on your energy, and that sense that even the smallest argument could push you past your limit.

I know how heavy that feels. And I want you to know you don’t have to stay in that place.

That’s why I created the Mom Survival Guide: Clear the Chaos.

This isn’t another system that makes you feel behind before you even start. It’s a simple reset, a way to quiet the noise, clear the confusion, and take back those “where do I even start?” moments so you can show up as the mom you’ve always wanted to be.

Inside, you’ll find small but powerful steps that bring back:

• Calm when your home feels overwhelming

• Clarity when you’re pulled in every direction

• Confidence that you can lead your family without losing yourself

👉 Download your free guide now and let’s take that first step together.