As I hastily packed the last few items in my bag, I wondered how I would get any transition coach work done on my international trip. I had been planning this trip for months and was quite excited to have the kids experience where I grew up. At the back of my mind however, was the fact that I wanted to stay connected to work. I resolved to do "some work" but didn't really set any clear goals. As I jetted off I wondered how other stay-at-home-moms that were straddling staying at home and working coped with the long school summer vacation in the US.
Prior to my trip I wrapped up my sessions with my clients since I knew I would be gone for two months. On the last session I again enquired how my clients felt about achieving the goals we had set for the summer. In all cases the clients were hesitant to commit, because they would “just have to see” how much time they would be able to get with the kids home for the summer break. One of my clients was actively getting back into the job market and another was trying to launch a new business. Both these goals require a lot of focused time and it seemed that the summer was going to totally set both my clients back as they put the needs of their family ahead of theirs.
I think the summer break is extremely challenging for moms that are trying to break into the working world. The moms I am referring to have not quite made enough money to justify childcare but are serious enough about what they want to do, to not want to drop everything for the summer.
The trick is to really plan ahead and carve out the time you need to get the work done. In my case this time happens to be between 5 and 7 in the morning. This is before my kids are up and since I am a morning person, it is absolutely no problem to wake up a little early to get a jump start on work. Leaving your working hours during the summer to chance is going to be just that, chance. On some days you might get something done, but you might also go for weeks without getting a chance.
So if you are serious about launching your career, your business or whatever is next on your plate, I urge you to not let chance dictate your summer but for you to take charge of the time you have and carve out the hours you need.
How are you coping with the summer so far?
Fezeka Saige
Transition Coach
Coaching Women to Transition with Purpose
Helen, you are absolutely
Helen, you are absolutely right. I never quite made the distinction. Since I moved gradually from staying home full time to working from home I always considered myself a stay at home mom who worked rather than a mom who worked part time from home.
Transition Coach Fez
Coaching Powerful Women to Transition with Purpose
www.coach2accomplish.com
Kanesha, I really like how
Kanesha, I really like how you have structured your time. I think the fun chart is a great idea instead of barking at the kids after the fact. Signs and signals for the kids (and the whole family) are so important for reducing the stress around working at home.
Fez- I really enjoyed this
Fez-
I really enjoyed this post. I'm home with my kids in July becuase this is my mother-in-law's time off. I still have my coaching work and writing to get done so I have to be sure to set the appropriate schedule (not just scheudle things) for the kids and me. We have a fun chart we use to show when "mommy's working" and when it's all of our time...plus the kids can schedule their own "private/working" time too. The 12yo loves this. The 4yo likes to just move stuff on the chart around - but it still works.
We would like to clarify. A
We would like to clarify. A woman who is working at home is not a stay-at-home mom. She may be part time, rather than full time. She may be freelance, but she is a work-at-home mom, not at SAHM. A SAHM is someone who chooses to be with her children full time, not earning pay or creating a business. The same definition holds true for a SAH Dad.