Houston, we've had a problem here.

— James A. Lovell—

Astronaut Lovell was understated in his observation to Mission Control in Houston. The Apollo 13 crew had discovered that their capsule was leaking oxygen, and they were a few miles from home (about 200,000) en route to the moon. Imagine if there was no Command Center in Houston to respond to the emergency and help the astronauts get back safely.

You need a Command Center for yourself and your family to be on the same page for everyday life organization, as well as the emergencies. It can be as simple as a corner on a desk or as spacious as a room. You may need your own personal space for some items and have a second central area for your family. No matter what the physical space is, there are several functions which should be centralized at your Command Center. For items for Your Command Center, go to the end of this article.

Your Command Center

In the busy world we live in, despite emails and cell phones, sometimes we just don't communicate as well as we should. Your Command Center is where your family can turn to for essential information. Here are the guidelines for setting up your Command Center. Modify the suggestions to fit your own personal lifestyle.

1. Family Calendar.
   A simple wall calendar will do. Make sure there is enough space in each day block to write in everyone's appointments. Other alternatives are erasable planning boards and a computerized calendar system.
2. Key Rack.
   Have a place to hang everyone's keys and encourage them to use it. If everyone can get the habit of walking in through the front door and hanging up their keys, a lot of time can be saved in searching for misplaced ones.
3. Message Board.
   If you are not texting or communicating by cell phone, have a message board to leave info for everyone. If nothing else, leave notes of encouragement or interesting stories for your family.
4. Trays to Sort Mail.
   Have a separate tray to hold each family member's mail. These can be wall mounted or trays that stack on a desk.
5. Chores List.
   If your family is always forgetting what chores they are in charge of, mount a chores list so there is no confusion or "forgetting."
6. Important Phone Numbers.
   Have a list of important phone numbers so that if there is an emergency, there is no fumbling around looking for phone numbers. This could relatives' phone numbers to doctors to plumbers and electricians.
7. Basic Supplies.
   Have basic supplies such as pens, paper, scissors, tape, stamps, stapler, and envelopes ready for family use. And don't forget that nice big wastebasket to hold the trash mail and paper garbage.
8. Bill Filing.
   You should have files set up for Bills to Be Paid and Bills Paid, along with your checkbook. If necessary, these files may need to be expanded for more detailed tax files.
9. Personal Planner.
   Have a space for your own Personal Planner which goes beyond the general Family Calendar. This will hold your goals and plans beyond immediate appointments.

— Shelly —

Here are a few items to get you started on your Command Center. You may also search for more books and other items at the search box and merchant links on the right.