One of the things I've learned in marriage is that communication is a work-in-progress. We've learned a lot in the past 7 years about communicating our expectations, our whereabouts, our plans. Sometimes we see how far we've come. And sometimes?
We realize we have a long ways to go.
Our household is a busy household. Between school-aged kids, living in a different town than where Hubby works, and friends and family scattered in various regions across our map, we are inevitably always on the go. There is not a day that goes by where something isn't on the schedule, where there isn't someplace to go or a person to meet up with.
You might imagine over the course of the years, we've had our signals crossed and miscommunications have happened. I can't tell you the countless times I've (thought I) told Hubby that we were all going to my mom's for dinner, only to find out that we crossed paths and he went home (a 30 minute detour). Or when Hubby has gone out with friends and I've wanted to get an idea of where he was and when to expect him home (because I'm never wanting to be the nagging wife texting "WHERE ARE YOU?" all evening). It's only going to get worse when there are kids sports/dance/music practices all over the county to contend with in the near future!
Seeing as it is #MotivationMonday, I am MOTIVATED to be a better communicator to my family and friends.
So what is a family to do? How can they avoid crossed paths, ever-changing calendars and general miscommunications?
They get Life360.
I. Love. This. App.
Life360 is an app that allows you to communicate with and keep track of family members (and friends, if you so choose) in a secure, private way. You can easily communicate schedule changes all in one click. Or you can show where you are (on a map, no less!) at the push of a button.
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| "Hey honey! I'm at Happy Hour! Be home by Dinner!" |
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| "Juuuuust checkin' in." |
LURRRRVE it.
One of the great updates to this app is that you can create "Circles." So I can have a circle of just me and Hubby (and some day in the very far future, this circle can include the girls). I can easily send him an update to our evening schedule or he can easily let me know where he is without sending me a text message (especially if cell-service is a spotty and not conducive to sending a text).
I can also have a wider circle involving my mom and my 2 sisters. We can share info easily, and the only people who will see it is the 4 of us. My one sister lives in Washington, DC so when she is traveling up to visit, it'd be great to use Life360 to get a handle on where she is on her journey.
It's easy, in this day and age, just to pop up a status on Facebook, "Hey, I'll be at the soccer fields tonight at 6pm!" But the internet is such a public medium. And can we be honest? Some people are just creeps. So constantly leaving an updated trail on your social media networks is not the safest, most secure way to communicate. I find Life360 to be secure, and when I tell Hubby that we'll be out of the house all day running errands, no one else has to know (stay away, creepers!).
This app is a FANTASTIC resource for families (especially those with really involved extended families) or even close groups of friends. Think beyond family as well. Maybe you are involved on a sports team or class, and having a Circle dedicated to those people could better help manage the schedules and information for those groups of people.
Oh lawdy.
I may create one for my Monthly Freezer Meal Club.
Friends, this app is FREE to download on the Life360 Website. I hope you'll download it today - make life EASIER on yourself!
How will YOU use the Life360 app?
What circles would you find most helpful?
I am being compensated by Splash Creative Media on behalf of Life360 to write this post. The opinions contained within are mine and mine alone.
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