It’s back-to-school season, and while many parents are furiously preparing to get their kids everything they need, one celebrity mom is sharing her tips for keeping an organized home and schedule. Nicole Ari Parker, a mom of two, spoke with Mom.com about preparing for her kids to go back to school and how she prepares her home in the weeks ahead. Like most moms, Parker agreed that tackling a new school season can come with many challenges and preparation, but says there are a few things she’s learned along the way to keep her ahead of the game.
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The actress admitted that her schedule is busy. She's a working mom who also manages the family’s schedules, including her husband, actor Boris Kodjoe, and their two kids, Sophie and Nicolas. It can be quite the task, but that’s why early preparation is key.
“Well, around this time, the kids' schedules really become the priority, right? We have to get it all organized because they're a little bigger,” the busy mom of two said, adding that there’s a lot to keep up with like “ordering things online, making sure they're here on time, to keeping all the snacks and the water bottles and the shopping and the house squared away. And you know, they're driving now. So it's like car maintenance, money management, teaching them all kinds of new skills, and keeping them motivated.”
But just how is she managing it all? Her secret is Post-it notes. With her background filled with colorful Post-it notes during the interview, Parker said everyone in the family has their own color. The 52-year-old revealed that she even places the Post-it notes all over the house to keep everyone on track.
According to a survey by Post-it, 77% of parents said that “running the household” is their top challenge, with 69% saying their next challenge was “managing schedules." However, 85% of parents think they’re more likely to achieve a goal if they write it down.
And even though the entrepreneur’s kids are a bit older, Parker agrees that Post-it notes help her run the household.
“When you get to teenager land, you're going to still have to remind them to make your bed, pick up your towel. And their motivation,” she said during her interview with Mom.com.
She also uses reminders to surprise her teens and encourage them. Parker shared that Kodjoe prefers to use Post-it notes, mainly for his work. And as a busy mom, she knows just as much as anyone that you need a system in place for yourself, too.
Sharing her schedule for a summer day in New York, she used her Post-it notes to organize her day, even reminding her to “go home.”
“Like I wrote that down. Like you got to really be with it,” she said. “You got to cut boundaries with yourself.”
Now Parker is teaming up with Post-it to encourage parents to celebrate their wins with their “Think Loud” sweepstakes, according to a release shared with Mom.com. Parents can enter the sweepstakes until September 15 by simply posting a picture on Instagram of their to-do lists, goals, and thoughts on a Post-it note. Participants could win $5,000 for a back-to-school shopping spree for their children and an additional $5,000 for themselves.
“Knowing how hectic the back-to-school season can be, I’m excited to encourage parents to jot down a reminder to themselves and celebrate the amazing job they are doing for their families," Parker says. “My family teases me because I have notes all over the house! The Post-it® Super Sticky Notes (3 in x 3 in) are in my purse and car at all times, and the larger sizes are on the front door just before I leave the house. It is the only thing that works for me.”
