Mum's Office Big Family Diary - can it get me organised?

The start of a new school year brings with it many emotions and challenges, but for me it also represents a fresh start.  Another chance, a clean slate to start again part way through the year, with a lovely new shiny academic year diary or calendar.  Long-forgotten New Year resolutions of getting organised are re-kindled and I leap at the chance to start a-fresh in the grim, determined hope that this year will be different.

I am one of the mums at the school gate who only gets to hear last minute about mufti-day or the cake sale that was mentioned on a school missive months ago and has been screwed up in the bottom of the book bag ever since.  I've turned up to doctor's appointments a week late - and once a week early.  I've double-booked nights out and forgotten birthdays.

So this gorgeous looking diary looks to be the answer to my prayers.

I have got over my feelings of inadequacy that I don't have a beautician, a butcher or a cleaner who's number I can scribe neatly inside on the 'need to know numbers' section, and consoled myself that the next time the roof springs a leak I will have both the number of the guy who came out last time, policy number and telephone number of the insurance company who didn't cough up previously.

Whilst I do harbor the suspicion that this diary is for uber-glamorous, city-slicker mums with au-pairs and personal hair stylists, I do accept that it has something to offer every family.

Lets face it, before kids life was pretty straight-forward.  I only had to worry about myself, and I could pretty well keep tabs on what I was up to on a scrappy piece of paper at the bottom of my handbag.  But with family life comes swimming lessons; hospital appointments; play-dates; tea at friend's houses after school; governor's meetings and a plethora of other things I usually forget.

This diary has a space for everything.  There's a handy section at the front for recording all your children's personal details including allergies; shoe size and term dates.  I can pretty much stay up to speed with my one child, but if I had 3 or 4 I'm sure I'd get in a muddle.  I think this section would be particularly handy if you have childcare - it's something you can leave for your nanny or babysitter and be sure in the knowledge that they could get hold of the doctor in an emergency.

The 'in case I lose my mobile' section could stop many a cold-sweat moment, and I need to fill that in right away.

Moving on to the diary section itself, it is a week-at-a-view style, with one page for my plans, so it will be great for keeping track of all my work appointments and blog schedule.  The opposite side side is a grid plan with 4 sections so you can keep track of what the kids are up to; your partner's movements; use it for meal planning and shopping; budgeting...whatever suits your needs.

Overall, feelings of inadequacy aside, it's a great looking diary and one which I intend to use to the max.  It measures 24.5 cm x 19 cm so will fit easily into today's cavernous handbag.  I plan to leave it on the kitchen dresser so all the family can see what's on, and take it out with me as I grab my keys and mobile.  This way, I will keep a note of everything all in one place - rather than some appointments on the wall calender, some in my phone and some pinned on the noticeboard - that's how things get missed.

The diary comes in three colour options - raspberry, peppermint or blackberry, and has a stylish faux croc skin hardback cover.  There's an elasticated strap to keep it neatly secured, a pen loop to keep your writing implement handy and a useful gusset pocket at the back for notes; invitations and receipts etc.  It's available from stationers and retailers nationwide, or from Amazon at around £16.

      

Disclosure: I was sent a diary for the purposes of this review.  All opinions and images are my own.  The link above is an affiliate link.