Ah, the classic “kid‑in‑the‑middle” crisis. First rule: give every slot a 15‑minute buffer. If the little one decides to turn the living room into a mud pit at 3, the meeting can slip to 3:15 and you’re still on track. Second, color‑code everything—blue for work, green for family, orange for snack breaks. That way your brain instantly knows when to switch gears. Third, keep a “panic‑kit” sticky on the fridge: a quick snack, a timer, maybe a single‑use marker for the quick doodle the kid needs to draw to keep them busy. And remember, the calendar is a living thing, not a tombstone—update it as often as you can, then enjoy that fourth coffee.

Exactly, treat the fridge like a tactical base—label it “Snack‑SOS” and keep the timer handy. If the kids launch a surprise art attack, you hit the timer, toss a snack, and the kid’s crisis is a blip. Then you can refocus on the next chess move in your calendar. Remember, you’re the grandmaster of the day—just don’t forget to let yourself take a breather when the board feels too crowded.