I’ll be honest:
My kids are wiping me out. Working from home this summer vacation? It’s not really happening. It’s a routine I mangle every day.
The three of them have ample down time, plenty of activities for summer, gads of books. They even have two cherished hours of electronic freedom every day.
Still. I’m struggling to find time to blog, to work with my kids home on summer vacation. The toddler naps, but I want to spend time with the older two. I’m feeling guilty when I send them away. That guilt is later replaced by aggravation when I stare at a blank screen, no work done for the day.
Did I mention it’s still the first week of summer break? Yeah. I need to fix this fast.
After chatting with Brandon (my husband), I’ve brainstormed better ways to balance my work and the kids over summer vacation. Here is what I’m planning – and I hope it helps other WAHMs out there, too.
1. Blog less.
My fingers curled when I typed that, because I don’t want to blog less. Unless I suddenly can survive on no sleep, blogging needs to change for the next three months. This year, I’ve averaged four blog posts per week. Starting today, I’m readjusting my goal. My home responsibilities have increased, and I can’t be a semi-functioning zombie for my kids.
Plus, I want to enjoy this time. Watching my youngest discover paint? Watching my oldest pitch a fit because the toddler ruined his paint he just brought home from school? I can’t miss that.
2. Nap time.
I’m readjusting schedules, too. Yes, the toddler naps and yes, I want to spend one-on-one time with each child. This morning while the younger two prepared a picnic (of the pretend food variety), the oldest and I worked on a 550 piece puzzle. Later, the middle one and I will work on her gymnastic stretches together, maybe while the oldest has iPad time.
That way, I’m engaging with the older two kids separately, while the other two play. The toddler? We spend p.l.e.n.t.y of time together. Nap time needs to be down time for everyone – time for mom to write.
3. Flow chart.
I created a flow chart, and Brandon wrote it out for me. The kids can glance at it and know what their day looks like. Before we had summer activities, but they were free for whenever. But, I wasted lots of time limiting screen time or organizing papers. This will give us all a snapshot. It might even create independence in the older two!
I’m also ramping up the independent home activities for kids. I had activities, but now I have larger projects for each. Ty is working on a scrapbook, and Za is adding to her travel journal.
Finally, I must remember: I am modeling work-life balance for my kids. Mom works, and I think it benefits my kids to see that. Kids can paint or color while I blog; they can build blocks or read independently while I create.
In August, I can’t imagine this is perfect. (Is anything?) Hopefully, it is better than these last few days have been.
I’m going to be honest with them. Mom works like dad, only at home. They get to stay home and have fun, but it will take compromise on all of our accounts. Working from home this summer vacation? It’s a dance, an art really. We can only get better.
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