Organization with four children – my way

How I find structure, ease and security in everyday life

Four children, a full life – and the question always: How do I make everything work?

The answer: organization. Not as a rigid corset, but as a loving framework that supports us all.

My weekly plan – clarity for everyone

In our family we have a weekly plan that includes everything:

• Children's schedule: school, sports, music, appointments

• Household chores: Who cleans up? Who takes care of the dog?

• Family time: excursions, evenings together

• My own appointments: work, creative time, self-care

What's special about it: My children sign up themselves. This teaches them to take responsibility—and it gives them security because they know exactly what's coming up.

My personal daily schedule – focus instead of chaos

For myself, I have a book in which I record every day:

• What is important today?

• How much time do I have for what?

• What else do I really want to do?

I often work with time frames so that I have a clear framework – but always with enough leeway for spontaneous ideas or small and large catastrophes that are part of everyday family life.

The large calendar – the foundation

We also have a large family calendar that acts as a complete overview. It lists all appointments, deadlines, and to-dos. Every evening, I look at it and pull out what's important for the next day.

Favorite food and bulk shopping – living together

On Sundays, we sit together, and everyone gets to choose their favorite meal once a week—including me. ;-)

Not only is it fun, but everyone feels seen.

Once a week I do a big shop – or have the items delivered.

This saves a lot of time and frees my mind. During the week, I only buy small things.

This way we always have enough at home and everyone has their favorite moments – including culinary ones.

Time for me – a fixed place in the day

Very important: I consciously take time for myself.

Usually it's in the morning – I get up at 5 a.m. and have an hour to myself – yoga or meditation, reading, thinking things through...

Or I take half an hour in the evening, after the children are in bed, to make music or just lie on my Shakti mat.

These little breaks give me the strength I need for everything else.

Organization with four children – but with heart and room for spontaneity

For me, organization is not just a technique, but an attitude.

It gives us as a family a sense of security – and gives me the freedom to be creative and present.

But for me, organization doesn’t mean planning everything.

It means creating a framework in which we feel safe.

And precisely because I know exactly what’s coming up, there’s also room for spontaneity:

• If the kids spontaneously want to eat ice cream, we do it.

• If friends come over and stay, that fits in.

• If one of us says, “I don’t want to clean up today, I’ll help more tomorrow” – that’s okay.

  Because in the end it's not about perfection, but about community and everyone having their place.

My conclusion:

For me, organization is not the goal, but a tool.

It helps me to cope well with the many small and large “musts” of everyday life – school, daycare, appointments, errands, all the things that simply have to be done.

But everything else?

This can flow freely.

It's not perfect here, it's alive.

It gets loud, it gets chaotic, and sometimes it gets confusing. And that's exactly what defines us.

Because in the end, it’s not about everyone always doing everything “right.”

What matters to me is that we go through life together – that we help each other, see each other, support each other, and sometimes say: “Today you take a break, I’ll help you.”

It’s about having space for myself to breathe – to make music, to read, to just be.

And it's important to me that my children learn: We are a community. We support one another and we respect each other's boundaries, including mine. And those can vary depending on our mood and the situation. Because we are human beings, and life is happening around us. It never stagnates.

Organization gives us the foundation for this – and everything else can dance.

My reflection questions for you:

• Where could you create more structure in your everyday life that would give you security?

• Where can there be more lightness and room for spontaneity at the same time?

• How can you involve your children (or your environment) more so that they become part of this togetherness?

• What does your everyday life need to feel like you – not like other people’s expectations?

My tips for more ease in everyday family life:

• 1. Start small. You don't have to organize everything at once. Start with a small plan and see how it works for you.

• 2. Integrate the children. Give them responsibility – this will boost their self-confidence and take the pressure off you.

• 3. Be honest with yourself. Not every day has to be perfect. Organization should help, not control.

• 4. Make it beautiful! A calendar that brings you joy, colorful pens, and little stickers—these can make organization easier and more creative.

• 5. Stay flexible. If something doesn't work out, look for a new solution—not blame.

• 6. Use delivery services or bulk shopping if it helps you save time and energy. You don't have to carry everything yourself.

For me, organization is a loving framework in which we can all grow – each at our own pace.

But my dream is to have a housekeeper and a babysitter. Sometimes things just take time.