You're Right. You Don't Have Time for everything. Here's a Quick Fix.

C'est tout.

You don't have to do it all.

How can you move forward?

How can you get more done?

"Well, I'll tell you, Nicki."

"How does she do it all?" I don't. You shouldn't either.

"For real, tho?"

Yes, for real.

Let me spin you a tale. A Mother's Day tale.

How was this a movie?

For this Mother's Day, I had quite a morning planned for myself that would start with celebratory public outing with hundreds of other families, and commence with lunch and a nap in the afternoon. I had been organizing this for weeks, sending emails, making multiple calls, arranging printouts and pick-ups and drop-offs, because I knew it would be something my family would enjoy.

Note that I had orchestrated much of this myself, even though I have capable people in my family that could have made some plans on their own for me, the Mother in question.

On the Saturday night before Mother's Day, as I was going to bed, I realized I was feeling ill. But maybe my malady would go away by the morning.

It did not go away by morning.

I felt worse.

Now what?

#TimeManagement: How your Dream Board can help you "make time for me"

"Can't stop, won't stop... Help."

You're a lady (or a gentleman?) with a lot on your plate.

You're always doing everything for everyone else.

Yes, but...

You need some "me time".

Some time for you.

Right now, Nathan Fillion!

First, if you don't have a Dream Board, or you'd like to make a new one, here's How to Build Your First Dream Board.

Second, if you do have a Dream Board, Congratulations!

You're welcome, Beyoncé.

Here are three ways your Dream Board can help you with time management, so you can make time for yourself (instead of everyone else):

You've made Your Dream Board! Now what?

"Uh...You tell me!"

Congratulations! You've learned How to Build Your First Dream Board. You did the work. And your Dream Board is complete.

"We did it!"

So, what's your next step?

Here are the three best things to do once you've made your Dream Board:

How to Get Anything You Want: the You Better Ask Somebody edition

"But whom should I ask?"

The first Somebody is You.

Yes, you, Xo.

Before you ask someone else for help with your goal, you need to put that goal on your Dream Board.

Next, you need to ask yourself these questions:

Diversity does not mean 'Black', and Family does not mean 'Children'.

"The situation is a lot more nuanced than that."

A couple years ago, I was attending yet another diversity in entertainment panel, this one hosted by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, a pioneer in the field of actually studying issues like why children's television shows have only 1 female character for every 2 male characters.

One of the panelists, veteran diversity executive Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i, stated that when addressing the lack of accurate representation on U.S. television, "Diversity does not mean 'Black.'" Meaning, you can't simply add a black character to an otherwise all-white show and declare your program "diverse." That's not how diversity works. Literally. It's insulting to black people, dismissive of all other forms of inclusion, and bad for your bottom line.

"Don't forget about us hapas of Indonesian descent!"

Similarly, when I say "family", or,  "If you want to build your family, put it on your Dream Board", I don't mean "put a baby on your Dream Board."

How to Get Your Daughter into College: Preschool Prep edition

(Originally posted on We're Going to College!. Reposted here for you Dreamers who also happen to be--or want to be--Smart Moms!)


Do you have children?

Are they in preschool?

Do you want them to go to college?


It's never to early to BE PREPARED.

For an unpredictable earthquake, you have a flashlight, batteries, bottled water in your safety kit.

For parents of 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, and 5-year-olds, college is an earthquake you know is coming in about 13 years. Prepare now so you don't have to worry later.

Most families start thinking about college near the end of high school. So, let's work backwards.