diff --git a/t.sh b/t.sh
index e14dc46..56c3220 100755
--- a/t.sh
+++ b/t.sh
@@ -1103,14 +1103,43 @@ function addcmd() { # name usage description alt1|alt2|etc supportsall
     fi
 }
 
-function getchildren() {
+function sortuidlist() { # sort a list of task uids by task summng aries
+    local unsorted uidandsum withnl sorted_arr sorted unsorted_arr uid
+    unsorted="$1"
+
+    # change "123 456 789" to
+    # ("123#do something" "234#other task" "789#something#)
+    unsorted_arr=""
+    for uid in ${unsorted}; do
+        id=$(getid $uid)
+        unsorted_arr+=("${taskuid[$id]}#${tasksum[$id]}")
+    done
+    IFS=$'\n'
+    withnl=("${unsorted_arr[*]}")
+    sorted_arr=($(sort -df -t '#' -k2 <<<"${withnl[*]}"))
+    sorted=""
+    for uidandsum in ${sorted_arr[@]}; do
+        sorted="$sorted ${uidandsum%#*}"
+    done
+    unset IFS
+    echo "$sorted"
+}
+
+function getchildren() { # parentuid
     local uid childuid children id
     uid=$1
     children=""
     for id in ${!taskid[@]}; do
-        [[ ${taskparent[$id]} == $uid ]] && children="$children ${taskuid[$id]}"
+        if [[ ${taskparent[$id]} == $uid ]]; then
+            children="$children ${taskuid[$id]}"
+        fi
     done
     [[ -z $children ]] && return 1
+
+
+    if [[ $WANTSORT -eq 1 ]]; then
+        children=$(sortuidlist "$children")
+    fi
     echo "$children"
     return 0
 }
@@ -1419,8 +1448,9 @@ DEBUG=0
 TESTMODE=0
 AUTOSYNC=0
 CALID=$(cat "$confdir/defaultcal")
+WANTSORT=0
 
-ARGS="fhic:dstyl:r:"
+ARGS="fhic:dsStyl:r:"
 while getopts "$ARGS" i; do
 	case "$i" in
 		h)
@@ -1446,6 +1476,9 @@ while getopts "$ARGS" i; do
 		s)
                         AUTOSYNC=1
 			;;
+		S)
+                        WANTSORT=1
+			;;
                 t)
                         DEBUG=1
                         TESTMODE=1
@@ -1647,6 +1680,9 @@ else
                  uids="$uids ${taskuid[$id]}"
             fi
         done
+        if [[ $WANTSORT -eq 1 ]]; then
+            uids=$(sortuidlist "$uids")
+        fi
         if [[ ! $mode =~ $passive_modes ]]; then
             info "About to run '$mode' on the following tasks:"
             needtitle=0