Running my own business and being home-based definitely has its benefits, and I’ve noticed it particularly during this Easter school holiday where I can, to a certain extent, organise my work around the boys and can therefore be more flexible in terms of childcare arrangements.
That’s brilliant in so many ways – particularly for the kids, and it certainly helps financially - but it does have its own stresses. Apart from the fact that “being flexible” requires a huge amount of organisation (as any mum knows) its not always ideal to be away from my desk at certain points in the day (time to get a Blackberry?) and the work is still there; my shifts just change and so what I don’t get done in the day, I do in the evening or at the weekend and “work/life” balance goes a bit out of the window. Take today for example, the most BEAUTIFUL sunny morning and the start of the Bank Holiday weekend. My husband Leigh has taken the boys to Highgate Woods and I would love to be there too, but instead, I’m sitting at my desk going through the work I haven’t managed to clear during the week.
However in the whole scheme of things I really can’t grumble. Firstly, it’s my choice and secondly, by making the most of the few quiet hours I have this morning, I too can have “time out” for the next 3 days. I’m going to spend this time with my husband and my boys. I’m not going to try and cram in gym sessions and I’m only going to go to the shops if absolutely necessary. If my house is a mess, so be it. It’s time for “time out”. We’re not going away so we’ll make a holiday at home. Hampstead Fair and Willows Farm beckon…. it’s going to be perfect (at least until the first tantrum….!)
….And then it’s another week of manic planning and co-ordination, balancing childcare, work and playdates until we’re back to the usual routine. Everything seems to be working out well this holiday, but at the back of mind already there’s a niggling worry of how I’m going to manage the longer summer holiday. For various reasons, this is the first year I’ve really had to think about childcare for the holidays. Summer camp will be an option for Joe, who is 4 ½ , and that’s fine for a week or maybe two, but not for a month and there is the cost to take into consideration - and of course Max who is only 2 1/2.
How do other mums manage work with school holidays? What do you do if you're not "your own boss"? I'd like to know ......
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Sarah Rutlidge | Report this comment