It may be school holidays for your kids, but that doesn't mean your work stops, too. Here’s our guide to help you juggle work and holidays without getting in a bind.
1. Plan ahead
A trip to the pool, a visit to the museum or a movie are just some things you can do that don’t take up the entire day, which means you can schedule in some work before or afterwards and the kids get out of the house and do something fun.
2. Speak with other parents
There will be other working mums in the same boat as you. Perhaps you can alternate pick-ups and drop-offs from school holiday activities and take turns having each other’s kids over for playdates. If you work part-time you might be able to coordinate days off with each other.
3. Talk to your boss
Is there an opportunity for you to work flexible hours during the school holidays? Perhaps you could work from home for some of the time.
4. It’s OK for your kids to get bored
If you do get the chance to work from home, remember it is not essential for your children to always have something to do. You are not their event planner. Being bored is a good way to encourage creativity and let your kids know the world does not always revolve around them. If you have an important work call it’s OK to give them all a bowl of ice cream or a packet of chips to keep them quiet for 10 minutes. The same goes for ice blocks, lollipops and iPads. Everyone wins.
5. Work at night or get up early
If you work at home, then try working at night after your kids have gone to bed or in the morning before they wake up. Sometimes you have no choice but to do both. You do get a lot done without your kids asking for food every five minutes.
6. Arrange a sleepover or play day
Getting your kids out of the house will always help you get work done if you work at home or allow you to go to work without needing care. When you’re not working you can do the same for another parent. Kids are always easier when there’s bunch of them anyway.
7. Take turns to work
Pre-arrange with your partner to each take a work break at different times during the holidays. It works really well and it also gives you both some alone time with the kids.
8. Be organised
Perhaps your boss will let you work some overtime in exchange for some time off during school holidays, or if you work from home you can do extra work in the lead-up to allow you to work less during holidays.
9. Get a babysitter
If you’re lucky enough to have someone you can call on to help out, then do that. It might be grandparents, another parent, a babysitter or a neighbour, but sorting out childcare in advance will always take some of the stress out of juggling work and school holidays.
10. Give them a fun thing to do
If you’re working from home, then it’ll help to organise planned activities to keep the kids busy. Set up the dining table with a heap of craft or give them instructions to build a cubby house or make a treasure map. Remember your kids are used to teachers giving them things to do. If they’re engaged in a cool activity they’ll be less likely to bother you while you’re working. And if all else fails, bribery or sweet treats will help.
11. Book them into activities
This could simply be holiday day care at your kid’s school or full-day art, sport, drama, science or dance workshops or summer camp. That way your kids also have a fabulous time and get to meet some other kids while they’re at it.
12. Make peace with the guilt
You are probably already familiar with this emotion. Being a working mum (or mum full stop) means you will be riddled with guilt whether it’s the school holidays or not. Your kids will be fine and so will you. Although you’re not able to get time off when you kids have school holidays, perhaps you could arrange a family holiday for another time. That way you won’t feel as guilty or sad you’re missing out on quality time with your family. The kids will be excited to get some extra time off and the upside is it’s always cheaper to book hotels and flights in off-peak times.
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