Just the other day, I was musing about building new structures and routines as families change. At the time, I was thinking about how fortunate I was to have a child who rolls with the punches — especially since I also have one who treats a minor change in plans like a full-out assault on her person.

Well, I won’t make that mistake again.

Right after I wrote that post, Mr. Easy, my 3yo, started pitching a fit when I dropped him off at nursery school on MWF. He’s got a great reason — over the holidays, I started my own business, and I moved him from full-time care to part-time. While he’s still at the same school, he’s in a new classroom with a totally different schedule. There are two big upsides: It’s half the price, and we’re spending lots more time together — a big part of my motivation.

But it’s still new. And as his minor upset grew into near-tantrums over the past week, I knew I had to act.

When his sister was small, her dad and I divorced. Our parenting schedule had her at each house for a week — but then, she’d have dinner with the opposite parent on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and spend the day Saturday. Since we attended church together as well, it meant she rarely went for more than a day without seeing us both. But it was complicated. However, I was astounded at how early she learned the days of the week. We made a real effort to teach her, hoping to give her some sense of control about her life. And it worked.

So, we’ve posted a calendar in the 3yo’s room, and we’re working on it. I’m hoping for less of a tantrum this morning when I drop him off, but I know it will take time. Wish me luck.

Laura Creekmore is mom to the 9yo, the 3yo and the player to be named by mid-May. She and her husband live in Nashville, TN, where she blogs about cooking and random things that strike her fancy at Fixin’ Supper. She’s a web strategist by trade and runs her own company, Creekmore Consulting.