Thursday, 04 February 2010 00:00

1. Ease into the Evening. Instead of walking in the door after work or errands and immediately launching into another chore, allow time and space to downshift into evening mode.
2. Create a Dinner System. Rushing to get dinner on the table is a major source of evening mayhem, but a little bit of preplanning can help you power through with a minimum of stress. 
3. Keep the Kids Busy. All the shortcuts in the world won't help if you're constantly being interrupted, so a little creativity may be needed to get the kids out from underfoot.
4. Plan Homework Time. To avoid last-minute cries of "Mom, I haven't done my homework yet," having a homework routine is a must.
5. Share the Work... and a Break. Dividing tasks between you and your partner can make family time more serene for both of you.