Work dilemmas whilst kids are off for summer

Work from home can be complex with kids off school

Summer is a wonderful time, a much needed break between busy seasons. Schools are out. Work is slow(-er?), family visits and holidays are on the horizon. Change of scene, change of air, very welcome indeed.

However, when you have kids, especially small kids, summer can be more of a juggle than the normal routine.

What will the kids do all summer?

My kids have 7-weeks off!

Camps require pick up and drop off arrangements; they are only for 4-5 hours a day, and are pretty expensive. Play dates are hard to plan as everyone has different summer schedules.

When I was working full time in an office, between my work schedule, summer camps and scheduled holidays, we had a routine of sorts even in summer. I limited summer camps to ones that are close to home, so our house help can take the kids. I am lucky that in Dubai we have full-time affordable house help. For those of you who don’t or have to pay through your nose to get some, I feel for you.

My new dilemma during the summer

All these years, since I didn’t have a choice but to go to work 8am-5pm, to be honest my mum guilt in general was minimal. The lack of flexibility was frustrating, but I was committed to my role. The kids would go to a camp instead of school, and play at home in the afternoon; I would come home as usual, and that was a routine.

Now that I am building my own work, things are different. I can take them to different camps. I can spend more time with them. But I also need to and want to work. I need to work on my own projects and secure some freelance work.

I am in India at the moment, juggling my kids, parents, extended family and attempting to do some work.

How do I help in making my kids summer enjoyable whilst getting some work done too?

How do I create boundaries so that I actually get things done whilst the kids are home?

How do I plan my day? How do I plan my children’s day?

Since I have more flexibility now, surely I should prioritize some quality time with my kids?

These questions can lead to an unproductive tug-of-war in your mind between getting work done and spending time with the kids, ending up doing neither properly.

It’s all rather jumbled up in my head, and I don’t know what the solution is, but here are a few things I’m trying to cope with kids at home in summer while making it enjoyable for them and trying to set-up my own work.

My current coping mechanics when working from home with kids during summer

• Blocking clear chunks of time to do my work: Depending on the plans for the day, I am blocking out time to work. Either 3-5 hours in the morning, or the afternoon; and then 3-4 hours in the evening between dinner time and after the kids go to bed. The goal is to still have an 8 hour working day whilst I am getting my systems running. I’m trying to determine these blocks of time the night before, for the next day. I’m also writing down my to do list the night before, so I don’t waste time when my ‘blocked time’ starts and I focus on actioning my list.

• Taking 5-10 minute breaks every few hours to chat with the kids: When I get up to make a coffee or eat a snack, I do it with the kids. The break usually ends in lots of cuddles! I feel this replenishes both me and the kids, and we are okay without thinking of each other for the next few hours.

• Open door policy for my kids: I have started keeping the door of the room I am working in, open while I am working. I explain to my kids that I need to work, but I am here if they need me. This way, they know where I am, do not get wound up because my door is closed and they can’t see me, and I don’t mind if they come in to ask me something.

• Allow the kids to play in the study where I work: There are days when the kids want me, all the time. Allowing them to colour, draw, do a jigsaw or play Jenga next to me works well. They are quite good at not interfering.

  

• Give the kids time immediately after I finish a block of work: When it’s time for me to break from work, I go to the kids first and spend some time with them. It could be 5 minutes or 1 hour, but it works and they feel like I’m back.

• Reward them with some TV time and / or a treat: I’m against extending screen time during summer; and iPads are a strict no at home. But if they have been good, and have played well most the day, and I still have a few things to wrap up, I feel no qualms of giving them an extra hour or so of TV, or an ice-cream!

Let them be bored

“Mummyyyyy, I’m bored…”. Honestly, when my kids say this to me I feel like I need to do something or provide them with an activity to occupy their time. I offer them something (sometimes something new!) to play with, but it doesn’t last long and I find them coming back to me with dragging feet.

My first day in India, I went to the store and bought them craft activities, paints, colouring books, play dough, Jenga, cards, cars, jigsaws; I even bought my daughter a ‘glam’ kit with which she could do her own nails, tattoos, colour her hair.

All these activities were exhausted in the first 2 days! My initial reaction was to go back for more. But, not practical or sustainable. I find that the easiest thing for me to do is over-schedule the kids days, and always have something for them on hand, but that’s not the best thing for anyone either. It’s exhausting, expensive and the day is on auto-pilot.

So, I’ve started to ignore this sentiment. It’s super hard and I feel bad about it, but ignore it enough and I find that their imagination alights and they find things to keep themselves busy.

Nothing to do challenges the imagination and sparks creativity. According to the American Psychological Association, boredom makes kids more motivated and improves children's minds and well-being. Boredom breeds creativity!

Workations

In a recent newsletter by ‘Any Mother Business’ written a fellow working mum Jan, I read about the concept of Workations which I thought was genius.

“Family workations are exactly what they sound like. You get a family vacation, with the opportunity for parents to work. Childcare is usually included, or at least made super accessible, along with everything you might need to work while abroad. Think speedy wifi, hot desks, monitors and other hardware, refreshments, and even opportunities for networking and coaching. When you’re not working, you can enjoy the holiday environment as a family.”

The article links to a few such options Jan found, you can check them out here.

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And you?

How is your summer going? How are you keeping your kids busy? How does it work with older kids? Please share, I’d love to hear from you!

My feedback survey

Last but not the least, last week I put out a small survey for you, to understand what you enjoy in this newsletter so that I can make sure I am providing you with value.

Thank you to those who took a few minutes to answer it and to those who are open to having a call! I’m so excited to speak to you!

To those who haven’t yet, I would love to hear from you. I do not take my place in your inbox lightly and would really appreciate any feedback you may have.

Take the survey here.

Thats all for now.

Love,

Abha x