Freelancing Moms Have To Decide…
May 9, 2008 by Bridget Wright
Filed under Business
what to do with the kids once school is out! It’s almost that time for my kids here in Alabama, and with three of them, I know it’s going to an interesting (and tiresome) next couple of months around my household.
[photo: my personal photos]
Now, don’t get me wrong, I do SOOOOO love my kids. It’s just that I find it quite difficult to conentrate when they’re around, and being a freelancing mom, I have to consider my flexible schedule since they’re going to be out for the summer. The entire summer. What can I do to make sure I still get my work done?
Although as freelancing moms, we are time-challenged at times like summer break, holiday breaks, spring breaks, sicknesses and other situations, I think there are some things we can do ensure that we still keep a productive schedule and the kids entertained at the same time.
I don’t know about other freelance moms, but I sure would like to read any, ANY, tips you may have on balancing summer breaks and your business at the same time. Any tips, might I add. We all need to stick together.
There are two things that I have right off the bat to suggest what might work for us all:
1. Keep the same schedule throughout the summer, no matter what.
Now I know you’re thinking, “It’s summer and they will want to sleep late.” Well, that’s fine, but try to keep the schedule as close to the school routine schedule if at all possible. This will help the kids stay on a routine, avoid crankiness and help you set some human hours to work. The second thing is to:
2. Keep something educational and entertaining for the kids to do.
This doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. It doesn’t mean a horse and pony show every day either. Structure here is the key. Keep library books checked out. Set certain times and limits for television… and gameboys. Make sure they eat their meals on a schedule and even set a schedule for their entertainment time. Instead of going to the pool for all day, plan to go from say 10:00 a.m. until lunchtime or so. They’ll know what to expect and you can set your work time schedule around it.
So freelance moms, don’t fret. Let’s brainstorm here and find some things that we can do to ensure that we ALL have a productive summer. Beginning with the two suggestions that I have listed above, what’s your suggestion?
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Do share.
I suggest working out an arrangement with other work-at-homers in your area to trade off the kiddos so you can each get some uninterrupted work time. Or check out organized activities like summer recreation programs that will get them out of the house and give them something to do. Either way, you get some built-in time to concentrate and focus.
Well, I’m a single mama, I blog/freelance FT for a living, and I homeschool, so the summer is no problem. Actually, for me summers are better, because school kids are home, so my son has more frequent playmates; my free time opens up.
What I do during the school year is my son is with his dad Sat & Sun, so I do as much as humanly possible then. On weekdays I either get up at 4am or stay up until 1 or 2am depending on if I’m feeling like a morning or night person. That leaves M-F mornings to afternoons open for Cedar. Although occasionally he wants alone time (like right now, and I’ll do things like check my feeds or email for 15 mins).
I just covered the same topic on my site. It’s nice to know that others struggle with the guilt and indecisions as we tried to make a better life for our families! Keep smilin’ and visit the article at http://empoweringmom.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-to-do-when-summer-comes.html