By Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore

One of the toughest parts of being a parent today is keeping track of so many jam-packed schedules simultaneously. But it doesn't have to be such a headache. There are some great solutions for workiing out a plan below. (SHNS illustration by Hollie Sehrt)

How many times have you looked at your watch, only to realize you are 20 minutes late for something important? Whether it's the moment you realize you're missing your son's opening pitch or that your daughter is still waiting for you to pick her up from school, your stomach drops, your pulse races and you feel just awful.

One of the toughest parts of being a parent today is keeping track of so many jam-packed schedules simultaneously. But it doesn't have to be such a headache. There are some great solutions out there today to help you easily keep track of everyone in your entire family's busy schedule. Let us show you how.

Alicia, on getting the family on board

When I wanted to start getting all of our schedules together in one place, I waited for a night when we were all home for dinner. With everyone present and happily full, I gently talked about how it would benefit all of us if we had a general idea of what everyone was doing during the week. My husband, Adam, would know when I was out of town for the day, Lucy would know when Megan had ballet, and I would know where my whole family was. While I can't say everyone jumped for joy, I can happily report that it made enough sense to them to get them to give it a thumbs-up.

Sarah, on gathering everyone's whereabouts

To make a master family calendar work, it has to be easy to create and simple to update. You need to ditch the idea that it will be perfect and 100 percent correct. Focus first on meetings, classes, school events, sports etc., that happen on a weekly basis. Once you get that information down, have family members post other important items every Sunday night for the week ahead. Jot down not only the event but also any phone numbers or pickups needed as well. That way you have everything together in one place. Finally, listen to feedback. Ask your family how it is going after a month, and implement any changes they suggest to improve things.

Here are some practical options we think can help you tackle your family calendar.

1. "White" it down.

   Everyone loves a white board. They're fun to write on and easy to erase if you make a mistake. Buy the biggest one you can find, and hang it in a prominent place such as the kitchen. Use colored painters tape to make a grid on it and then write everyone's name down the side and the days of the week across the top. Make sure to have plenty of dry erase markers in different colors on hand. White boards are the perfect solution for schedules that change frequently.

2. Google it.

   Google's calendar seamlessly and simply integrates every family member's independent schedule into one combined view. Each family member registers for a personal calendar online and then shares it with the others at the push of a button. Because the Google calendar easily links to existing Microsoft Outlook or Macintosh iCal programs, setup is a snap. Get the free "beta" version of Google Calendar at calendar.google.com. Google Calendar is a favorite among tech-savvy teens.

3. Keep it with you.

   One option that is clearly for mom and not for other family members is My Whomi (mywhomi.com). It is, however, the perfect portable solution if you are the only one who needs everyone's information. My Whomi is a personal agenda with plenty of room for you to write down the activities of everyone in the family. This solution is most helpful for moms with young kids.

(The writers are cofounders of Buttoned Up, a company dedicated to helping stressed women get themselves organized. Send ideas and questions to yourlife@getbuttonedup.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)