Well at the moment I only have 22 families active, not counting my daughter's (yes, I finally managed to get a count.) My others are paused or between gens, so they didn't get counted. Some are night families and some are day.

My usual routine is to open them up and immediately pause. I select each family member, checking for illnesses as I set them about chores. Children and nursing moms on cleaning tasks, teens on cooking, etc. Then I check to see if we need to try for a baby and check my notes to see if baby boost was needed. Check the store. When everyone is where they need to be, I un-pause and they all take off. While breakfast or dinner is being cooked and everything is being cleaned, I look for collectibles (to be honest, that's about the only time I ever do, although my daughter has me trained to look when it rains.) If they are under career level 4-5, I spend a bit longer with that family because they still need training more than one that is close to mastering out.

I'm not sure I know how to describe what I do (plus, I have my daughter in my ear as I'm trying to type!!!) Anyone who needs a shower gets one. Adults who don't voluntarily go exercise when they leave the table are placed on the treadmill and praised with candy (if I have it) or just get a pat or two. I stay around to make sure they finish that and then get a pat for a round of work. I will use candy for work but not after level 5-6.

When everyone is all set (showered, fed, tried for the new baby, house is clean, emails read, stuff from the store bought, etc.) I set the new groceries on the table and close that family, moving on to the next one.

For new families, don't make the mistake I made and start several at once or you'll be hit with a lot of deaths at once and that's just depressing. I usually stay with a new one until I am sure they are well-trained to work (not a lot of head-shaking and smoke-puffing,) and have had enough praise for exercise, cooking and showering to do those things when I'm gone. I also try to make sure they have a child or at least have tried. (If they aren't successful at trying for a baby, they go on my list to re-open and try again when I'm done with my other families.) Happiness level will eventually raise; if you've gotten the house mostly clean, they are progressing on their career and are married, it'll raise faster.

On the subject of events, I have just the opposite. It seems every time I open the family I have one - either an event or an email. However, I rarely have them happen while the family is open (that could be due to the fact that none of my families are actually open for a long period of time though.)

I know you didn't ask, but I run XP (refused Vista when I bought my pc) and have 7 windows users set up - 5 are family member's account, 1 guest and 1 I named "gamer" just for VF. hehe