Multitasking MomsLife doesn't have to be perfect to be good.

Watch my short (under 5 minutes) review of Frank McKinney’s “The Tap,” and leave a comment! I will donate $1 to the Caring House Project Foundation for each comment I receive before 5 PM Friday, July 2, up to $100. Tell a friend!

I’m a huge reader (meaning that I read a lot, not necessarily that my rear end is larger than it should be, though that is probably true, too). And I read a lot of business/personal success books. One thing I wanted to do in this space is to share my opinions and “Aha!” moments from the books I’m reading, as they apply to multitasking mom-hood.

The latest book on my nightstand is The Tap by Frank McKinney.

McKinney is not at all what you think he’s going to be, based on the rocker clothes and high-maintenance hair. He IS the creator of multi-million-dollar spec homes in Florida, and a philanthropist who donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to create self-sustaining communities in Haiti.

This dude rocks in more than one way.

The Tap is about becoming aware of the moments when God, as McKinney says, “gives you the finger.” Not in the way you might infer, but in the way that you’re tapped on the shoulder to do more and be more than you are now, namely by sharing your gifts with others.

I wasn’t going to write about this book here, mainly because he’s (obviously) not a multitasking-mom. But I reached a chapter where he talks about walking his daughter to school every day, and the adventures they have on the way, and something shifted in my brain. I thought, “I’m definitely sharing this on Multitasking Moms!”

So right now I’m only about halfway through. But based on my reading habits, I’ll be done this weekend and have a video for you next week. And I’m even going to email Mr. McKinney to see if he might answer a few questions for us. Stay tuned!

Aturkus/flickr

I recently read “You’ll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny” by Suzanne Hansen. Hansen came to Hollywood as a wide-eyed teen, looking to make her mark in Tinseltown as a nanny to the stars. While she did meet some keepers (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman), she met a lot of nasties, too. The book names names and shares Hansen’s apparent abuse at the hands of her employers.

While I love a good memoir, and I love a good gossip session, this book irked me. Hansen whines and complains about how tough her lot in life was, but it’s all from a victim perspective. She never got a contract delineating her responsibilities, hours, and pay (though she knew she should). She never communicates directly with her employers, but instead spends hours each evening complaining to her girlfriends by phone (only realizing later that her conversations could be heard through the house). She kvetches about her lack of transportation, her hours, the house rules, and pretty much everything. To listen to her, Oliver Twist had it good compared to the sweatshop conditions she was forced to slave under.

But she never looks in the mirror and realizes one important fact:

SHE SIGNED UP FOR THIS GIG.

“Ummm… hello?” I wanted to tell her. “This is your JOB. No one is making you stay. You are an employee, not an indentured servant.”

And then I thought about my own “job” as mom. Am I kvetching and complaining about elements of my job, without realizing the same fact: That THIS IS THE LIFE I WANTED? Hmmm. Not a pleasant thing to think about, but necessary.

I am not a victim.

I am in control of my life.

If there’s something about my “job” I don’t like, I can change it — or change my attitude about it.

I’ve been thinking about this for several days now — where I’m slacking and acting like a victim, and where I can take control. It could be as something as getting a grip on the laundry (my personal icky job) and just sucking it up already. Or it could be my unwillingness to admit that many times, the buck just stops with me, period.

I’ve got some changes to make!

I’m making a whopping $19 investment in my business. I think I’ll get that much back in the first 5 minutes!

This series is going to teach me a ton of stuff on WordPress blogging… including themes, with some of my fave people, including Nicole Dean, Lynn Terry, and Kelly Macausey. If you have a blog or want to start one, you may want to check out the Sizzlin’ Summer Series. I’ll be there!

Image courtesy of Supagroova/Flickr

I’ve come across some great resources for planning your summer (it’s not too late to get organized!). Check these out for some more tips on creating a great season for your family.

Making Summer Plans Tips and hints as well as downloadable forms to help you out. Organizing Your Way

Summer Planning Means No Bored Kids. “Plan something different for each day of the week.” “Take advantage of museums in your city or town.” “Commemorate!” These suggestions and more at A Busy Nest.

Promote Summer Reading for Your Kids. Great ideas for keeping reading in the forefront of your summer activities. Parenting Squad

Summer Crafts. Tons of easy and fun activities for your little ones. Kaboose

How to Set Up a Family Fun Summer Planning Binder. I love getting all my stuff in one spot. It makes me feel so organized! eHow

Summer BINGO. This is one of my absolute favorite summer ideas, from one of my favorite people! Stacy Julian

Want more tips for a sane summer? Then listen in as I chat with professional organizer Aby Garvey. We spoke last week about how to keep the summer schedule under control, what you need to do to stay on top of the camp/sports/park/pool gear, and more. You can hear the replay of the call on Monday, June 21 at 9 PM Eastern. Click here to register (it’s free!):Smart Summer Strategies for Busy Families

Image courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography

If you’re wondering what the heck you’re going to do with your kids for the next twelve weeks, you’re not alone! Many multitasking moms are so busy dealing with the the plethora of end-of-the-year parties, projects, and tests that thinking about what comes NEXT hasn’t even occurred to them! (I always joke that I only look about 12 hours ahead… and unfortunately, that’s not always a joke!).

While it would be terrific to have the whole months of June, July and August scheduled out, that may be a bit ambitious. Instead, take just 30 minutes today (okay, or tomorrow!) to sit down and make three lists:

1. Items that are already scheduled. Stuff like your annual 4th of July barbecue with the neighbors, the week at the lake with Grandma and Grandpa, and yes, even those annual dentist checkups for the kids.

2. Activities you want to do. Ask each family member to pick one or two “must do” items this summer — a slumber party, a bike ride, a sleep-out in the backyard. Make sure to add your own entries, too!

3. Stuff you don’t really want to do, but you know you have to get done. Be reasonable and hold yourself to just one big item per month. My list includes cleaning out the garage, going through the kids’ drawers for outgrown clothes, and steam-cleaning the furniture.

Now, pull out your calendar and add the items from List #1. Then schedule in the List #2 and List #3 activities.

You may not be competing with Martha Stewart, but that’s okay (remember, she doesn’t have kids at home!). You’re well on your way to an organized summer. Just remember to pull out that calendar and USE it!

Want more tips for a sane summer? Then listen in as I chat with professional organizer Aby Garvey. We spoke last week about how to keep the summer schedule under control, what you need to do to stay on top of the camp/sports/park/pool gear, and more. You can hear the replay of the call on Monday, June 21 at 9 PM Eastern. Click here to register (it’s free!): Smart Summer Strategies for Busy Families

According to the calendar, summer doesn’t officially begin until 6/21. But as all moms know, summer starts the second the dismissal bell rings on the last day of school!

Whether your kids are 3 or 13 or somewhere in between, the idea of facing a long summer with irregular schedules, vacations, and spotty childcare can leave even the bravest among us grabbing for the Calgon and the TV remote. If you want a different kind of summer for you and your family, I encourage you to tune into my call with professional organizer (and mom!) Aby Garvey this Friday, 6/4, at 10:30 AM Eastern.**

Aby’s going to share her tips on creating a summer routine, corralling all the gear that goes along with trips to the pool and picnics, and keeping control when everyone around you is crying “I’m bored,” “What next?” “He hit me!” and/or “Can’t we stay up just a LITTLE bit later? Plleeeeeezzzee??!”

The call is free, but you must pre-register. Click here for more info:

Smart Summer Strategies for Busy Families with Aby Garvey

**Can’t make the call on 6/4? We’ll be replaying the recording on 6/21. Use the link above to register!

If there’s one thing I know for sure (to take a line from Oprah), it’s that we all have too much to do and not enough time. I have yet to meet the multitasking mom who says, “Oh, yeah, I’m just so bored… I wish I had a new hobby/child/job/volunteer position to take up MORE of my time.”

No one has "extra" time. Photo: Aaron Geller/Flickr

We’re all strung out. That’s life.

So what can we do about it? Well, I’ve found that the traditional time management rules (prioritize, start with the most critical item and work downward in a linear fashion) just don’t work for moms! We don’t lead linear lives. We are jumping here, jumping there, figuring out which kid can manage on his or her own for a little bit while we address the dog vomit on the rug. It’s a constant reallocation and reprioritization of resources that occurs over and over and over again, all through our days.

Once I accepted that, I realized that there were some changes I could make to allow me to stop wasting time, start saving hours, and finally enjoy my life. I made some of those adjustments — and honestly, others I did naturally — and had an epiphany. If I can do it, other moms can, too.

And so I created TIME SUCK: How to stop wasting time, start saving hours, and finally enjoy your life (sound familiar?). It’s a combination audio guide, worksheet, and bonus handouts that will teach you some of my best tips and tricks for getting more done in less time. Check it out the video about it here, and let me know what you think. (Plus you’ll get to see the wrestling mat in my office!)