| For some of us with kids who are home all summer, the living is not so easy. It's always a bitter sweet moment when I realize school is drawing to a close and we all will have to let go of our scheduled lives for unstructured days of playing outside, staying up late and sleeping in. That's a good thing. But then I realize that work continues for me & my husband, and it's tough when we both work from home with the kids around. We want to be with our kids as much as possible and we want them to be able to relax in the summer, so it's a season of compromise. Here's a few tips for parents who work part time or full time from home: 1. Summer camps - take advantage of some local day camps even if it's just for half a day. This will give your kids something to do from 9-12 and you can get your work done. Then you can have the afternoons free to enjoy the summer. A camp for one full week may buy you some time to work from 9-3 everyday. If you know someone else who is going to the same camp, set up a carpool to save yourself gas & time. 2. Try working in the evening - if your schedule and your type of work allows, do your administrative/computer work in the evening when the kids are settled in. Save your day time hours for customer face to face time or conference calls. Your day may be broken up, but at least you won't be taking time away from your kids. 3. Hire a babysitter - Even if you are not used to day care, hiring a babysitter to cover those hours when you need to be working at home will greatly help your focus. The babysitter will take care of occupying and feeding the kids so you can really work and not be interrupted. When your work time is over and the babysitter has gone home, resist the urge to keep working (phone calls, emails, etc.) Turn it off until tomorrow! 4. Make summer hours - if you have your own business you can set your summer hours to accommodate your family's needs. For instance, you can decide I'm working Tues - Thurs and will be with the kids Friday - Monday. You might work longer days but at least you will be "home" four days and working three. If you work for someone else, find out what their flexibility is. 5. Take time off - when all else fails, take time off! We all need it sometime, especially if you have small children. They are not going to be small for long so treasure every free moment you have with them. I know this is not possible with all jobs, but if you have the option, take it. Even if it's a week long "stay-cation" we keep hearing about in the media. That's when a family takes a vacation from everyday life and just enjoys being together. Take day trips to places you keep meaning to go to. Stay in your PJ's for a day and let the kids plan the meals. Even the most structured, organized parent needs to forget all the rules and systems sometimes and just be. 6. If your kids crave structure - give it to them. My kids always have school work in the summer, whether it's a math packet, or a summer reading assignment. We plan it out so they work on these a little each day until the project is done. Usually they do this work from 9-11 am each day. After that, they are free to have friends over or to go out and play. Doing this early in the summer is better because they are already in "work mode." If they get bored towards the end of summer vacation, try to schedule a day camp for that time. Overall try to give them some structured time, mixed with the freedom of summer vacation! |
Organize your home, office, your life...
with Space to Spare!
with Space to Spare!
Debbie Lillard
Professional
Organizer
Professional
Organizer
Summer time and the living is easy, righ?
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