The Project Management of Parenting: A Mother’s Day Reflection
As we celebrate Mother’s Day this year, it’s worth reflecting on the ways that parenthood is an exercise in project management.
Some of you may wonder, how does one incorporate project management principles into the daily grind of parenthood?
Well, let me start by saying it’s not always an easy task. Parenthood can often seem like a chaotic, never-ending project, but with the right tools and approach, it can be navigated . It’s a job that involves managing various “stakeholders” (children, spouses, and even pets) in a way that ensures project success – or in this case, family harmony.
One of the ways you can implement in your own family is through budgeting. A common tool in project management, budgeting will help you control costs and manage resources . It teaches the kids about financial responsibility and planning, making sure they understand that money doesn’t grow on trees or the “Bank of Dad.”
Risk management is another project management element you must embrace as parents. This could be as simple as making sure the kids aren’t running up and down a busy highway with lit fireworks. It’s all about identifying potential dangers and taking steps to mitigate them.
But the most tangible way many have implemented project management in their family life is through planning a vacation. Many family vacations are exercises in the so-called ‘triple constraint’ of project management – time, cost, and scope.
Begin by determining the scope – what does your family want to do? Is it a beach vacation? A ski trip? A visit to Disney World? Once you’ve made that decision, look at your calendars, ensuring you have enough time to accommodate the trip. , consider your budget – how much can you afford to spend on this vacation?
You can extend this budgeting lesson to souvenir shopping. At the start of the trip, each child is given a certain amount of money for souvenirs. If they spend all their money on the first day, they learn a valuable lesson – there are no more funds coming from the Bank of Dad.
Parenthood is a complex and rewarding project, one that requires a delicate balance of time, cost, and scope. But with the right project management tools, we can guide our children through life’s challenges, teaching them valuable lessons along the way. This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the project managers in all of us, navigating the beautiful chaos of parenthood!