Modern mothers are increasingly turning to technology to help manage their hectic family schedules, with meal inspiration apps and shared digital calendars becoming essential tools for overwhelmed parents. Experts say technology works best when it simplifies life rather than adding complexity.
Tech as a lifeline for busy mums
For Phoebe Smith, a mother of two, technology is not about embracing a fully digital lifestyle but about using the right tools at the right time. She relies on a school WhatsApp group to keep track of important reminders.
“The WhatsApp group we have at school has been a bit of a lifeline,” she says. “There’s so much coming through emails and apps, it’s easy to miss things – then someone reminds you it’s Crazy Sock Day and you’ve completely forgotten.”
While she prefers to shop in person and maintain traditional home routines, Phoebe says technology steps in where it genuinely helps. “I’m constantly getting ideas off Instagram for meals,” she explains. “It’s great for inspiration during the week when you’re trying to think of what to cook. Obviously online banking is an important one and keeping track of things when you have time to process it all is a big thing.”
Routine is key
Phoebe emphasises that routine is the backbone of a smooth-running household. “If we don’t stick to a routine, everything else falls over a bit,” she says. “If we do, the kids sleep better and the week just runs smoother.”
A shared family calendar, used alongside a physical one at home, helps keep everyone aligned. “We send each other requests and it just drops into the diary,” she says. “It’s how we manage pick-ups, sports and events and make sure everything runs on time.”
Her phone has become the centre of most daily tasks, from banking to fitness tracking. “I use it for everything really – banking, news, fitness tracking, music,” she says. “If I’ve got a spare moment, I’ll just get things done on my phone.” Even small moments of downtime turn into productivity. “I’ll be in bed at night and realise I’ve forgotten to book gym classes,” she says. “So I’ll just do it there and then. Or it’s a quiet moment for me to catch up with my news subscriptions.”
Still, Phoebe is aware of the balancing act that comes with always being connected. “You don’t always want your kids seeing you on your phone all the time,” she says. “But it does help with day-to-day functioning. It’s not about doing more … It’s about having things organised enough that you can actually breathe a bit in between.”
Expert advice on screen time
Jeff Woodhouse, Executive General Manager of Mobile and Computer Technology at Harvey Norman, says being organised is a priority for mums because it reduces household stress. “That’s often what’s at play and can be a real strain for some who feel like things are getting away from them.”
Screen time is a modern parenting reality, but experts say the first step is rethinking how we talk about it. “There’s junk food, there’s health food, there’s benign foods … screen time can be an amalgamation,” explains Kathy Modecki, a Distinguished Professor at the University of Western Australia. “Part of it is thinking about what they (children) are actually doing online … you get really different risks and opportunities depending on that.”
Professor Modecki, who leads research into the social media ban for kids, says not all screen time is equal and trying to police every minute often backfires. “Be a coach, not a referee … building communication and trust will go a million miles further,” she says.
That message resonates with Jacqui Layley, who manages devices when her grandchildren visit. “Oh God, yeah, absolutely … it was more that kids could entertain themselves,” she says of raising her own children. “Now I find this generation needs to be entertained.” With five grandchildren, she sees how quickly screens take over but combats this by keeping them active. “When I’ve got the older ones, they’ve got their phone on them constantly so it can become a battle when they want to get on to their devices,” she says. “I took them to the forest to do a tree climb … try to keep them as active as possible without being stuck in the house.”
However, Ms Layley also acknowledges the benefits, especially for safety. “It’s great because you’ve got that technology to keep in touch … you’ve got your FaceTime and all that. That’s why phones are allowed – with rules … they can’t download anything without permission … it’s all about keeping an eye on them and blocking what’s risky.”
Professor Modecki says boundaries work best when paired with trust. “If a kid wants to get around things … there are all these workarounds,” she says. “What we want is understanding and trust.”
Tech gifts for Mother’s Day
For those looking to help mums stay organised, several tech products are available. The FotoStream 7-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame with 3 Interchangeable Frames is priced at $98 from Harvey Norman. The Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer AI Glasses in Matte Black with Clear to Graphite Green Transitions Lens cost $398. The Cricut Maker 4 Essentials Bundle is $588, and the Onyx Boox Go Color 7 Gen 2 eReader is $439.
