A shared to-do list for parents, with a name on every job
Both adults see the same plan. Each job gets one owner with “I’ll handle it,” and anything nobody has taken gets flagged.
Short answer
Put every kid job in one list you both can see, and give each job one owner. In Mapa, an adult taps “I’ll handle it,” both of you see who has it, and the adults involved get a reminder before it’s due. Upcoming plans with no owner are flagged, so nobody has to guess.
Why one owner beats “we’ll both keep an eye on it”
“I thought you had it” is the sound of a job with two owners. Each parent sees half the picture, and the other half falls through.
Parents don’t see the split the same way, either. In a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, 64% of mothers in two-parent homes said they do more to manage the kids’ schedules and activities; 53% of fathers said the same of their partner.
Sociologist Allison Daminger found that the thinking work, like noticing what’s coming and checking it got done, is often invisible to both partners. A name on each job, where both of you can see it, makes that work visible.
What goes in
Jamie: Mapa, I’ll take Leo to swim on Tuesday at 3:15 PM. Alex has the parent-teacher conference at 5:00 PM.
What both of you see
From the example, plus a field trip job already in the plan.
- Swim pickup · Tue, Oct 20 · 3:15 PM · Jamie
- Parent-teacher conference · Tue, Oct 20 · 5:00 PM · Alex
- Bag lunch and a jacket · Fri, Oct 23 · Nobody’s on this yet, with an “I’ll handle it” button
How it works
- Invite the other adult: a partner, a co-parent, a grandparent or the nanny. Everyone you invite sees the same plan.
- Add jobs the way they arrive: forward the school email, snap the form, or type it in the chat.
- Give each job one owner. Tap “I’ll handle it,” or tell Mapa who has it.
- Mapa flags upcoming plans with no owner, and the adults involved get a reminder before it’s due, by email or phone notification.
For whoever shares the care
Mapa’s name comes from Ma + Pa, but the plan fits any team: two moms, two dads, a parent and a grandparent, or a parent and a nanny. Kids don’t get accounts.
What it won’t do
- Split the jobs for you. Mapa shows who has what; the adults decide who takes each one.
- Keep score. There are no points, streaks or chore charts.
- Keep court records or split expenses. For custody paperwork, a dedicated co-parenting app is the better fit.
- Message other families. The plan stays inside your family’s space.
Questions parents ask
How do we split kids’ tasks between two parents?
List the jobs, then give each one a single owner instead of “both of us.” Look at the next week together once a week, and swap when someone’s week gets heavy.
Does the other parent need to download an app?
No app store needed. Mapa is a web app they open from your invite, and they can add it to their phone’s home screen.
Can a grandparent or nanny join the family plan?
Yes. Invite any adult who shares the care, and they see the same plan. Kids don’t get accounts.
What happens if nobody takes a job?
Mapa flags upcoming plans that have no owner with “Nobody’s on this yet,” until an adult taps “I’ll handle it.”
Is Mapa free to try?
Mapa is in early access. 7 days free, then from $6.67 a month