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More ideas and news about making money, home or small business and working at home. |
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30 Jul
Posted by Andrew in Home business | Small Business | WAHPs
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Quote source : Womenentreneur
Image source : Jason S
During the winter months, we long for days of fun in the sun with the kids and a more leisurely pace to our lives. But by the time the Fourth of July rolls around, many parents begin double-checking the calendar for the first day of school.
We all want the summer months to be memorable for our families, but we also need them to be productive to keep our businesses running smoothly to reduces (or better yet, eliminate) stress.
Figuring out the solution can be a family project. If your kids are old enough, plan a time to talk about the various ideas they have for the summer. Also, encourage ideas and activities that are free.
Put a structure in place: Schedule work times as well as activities and events for the kids and the family. A schedule lets children know what to expect and gives them a variety of activities to look forward to.
Create an event schedule–Mondays are craft days, Tuesdays are field trip days, etc.–and have theme weeks, too. Finding activities centered on the theme week that kids can do independently gives you time to focus on your work. For example, camping week could include using a pile of blankets to build a tent, which can entertain the kids for hours.
Field trips can provide a fun break and an opportunity for shared time. For camping theme week, take a nature hike or have the kids catch bugs. A theme week based on the Olympics can include sports events at the local park. Another week can be art week, with a trip to the museum.
To prevent interruptions in your scheduled work time, hire a high school or college student to come in when you need to work. He or she can play with the kids and help with a few chores around the house. The student can also chauffeur kids to and from their activities.
The opportunity to spend time with your family is a gift. Teaching your children to be independent and to develop a good work ethic are also gifts to be shared. Having your children around for the summer means you can spend quality time with them–and also teach valuable skills associated with being a home-based entrepreneur.
I can atest to the truth of this - the ONLY sure-fire way to survive working at home with the kids is to Routine-ize your life. EVERYTHING has to be planned, and if you plan to be spontaneuous, then that has to be planeed too!
As a full-time work-at-home Dad, I make sure the kids know that the’re a reason for their daily routine and when Dad or Mom has to make extra time for work, we try to tell them at least a day in advance so they know there will be changes to their routine.
Never underestimate your kids’ abillity to understand that you have responsibilities that you just cannot ignore. Remind them that these responsibilities are what keeps good food on the table, nice threads on their backs and the cool stuff they get for Christmas. But don’t lock yourself in your work room where they can’t get to you when they need you.
Once you establish a routine, your life as a work-at-home parent becomes a whole lot easier, NOT just in the summer but every day in your life.
Happy Summer.
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