by Nicole Unice, Richmond Author, Blogger at The Stubborn Servant and Richmond Mom-of-Three
Two work-at-home moms discuss the joys and challenges of summer:
Nicole: Man, I love Memorial Day! There’s something about watching your children slice through the smooth surface of the water on opening day at the pool, goggles in place, smiles on face, to make me sigh with delight: summer is here. But help me out Kate. I have no idea how to do this work-from-home thing with the kids out of school. How do you do it?
Kate:
Loaded question. I only have one summer to fall back on, and since it was the first year of bootstrapping and launching Richmondmom.com most of last year is a blur!
• I do remember that time-blocking was helpful.
• Mornings we played, swam, ran errands. Afternoons the little ones napped, my oldest was given a book or movie to focus on, and my emails + phone calls we returned. Being the neurotic soul that I am, I admittedly would check emails from my blackberry at the pool and playground, but kept it as much at bay as I could.
• Wednesdays were (and are still) my “work days out” when sitter comes to the house and I can focus on clients.
• Then we add 9-11pm writing after kids go to bed most nights.
Nicole:
Yes, that sounds similar to the way I do it:
• Because I LOVE what I do, I’m somehow able to set the alarm and the coffee for 5:30 AM. My hubs starts breakfast, which means I get two solid hours in before assuming mommy duty.
• I’ve instituted “P & Q” in my house, which I learned from my son’s teacher means “peace and quiet.” I don’t blame the lady for needing some every day of the year, twenty-some first-graders must be draining! Everyone goes to their room (7, 5 and 2) in the afternoon to do something quiet. I get another solid hour in then.
• For anyone insane enough to try, my college roommate, a mom and attorney, takes a “nap” from 7:30-9, then makes coffee and works until around midnight. Not good for the long haul, maybe, but she DOES get some great afternoon time with her kids and work done. I’d use it in a pinch.
• My friends and I do some co-op/play dating. I’m actually a better mom if I’ve got extra kids in the mix—feels like more of a “job” and I engage with the kids better—and then my friends return the favor for a few extra hours of free time.
• Use mother’s helpers: for about $5/hr, use a nine to eleven year old girl in the neighborhood for some fun and games with the kiddies and work time for momma.
One of the hardest things for both of us, though, is balance and boundaries. We need some Richmond Moms input! Do you have any other ideas? How do you make working-at-home work? How do you manage boundaries and balance between working and mothering?
