Summer holidays: balancing work, kids, and finances
Summer holidays. Two words that strike both excitement and mild panic into the hearts of working parents. The kids are off, routines are out the window, and somehow you’re expected to juggle work calls, childcare, and your sanity.
With a bit of planning (and a strong cup of coffee), you can navigate the chaos with less tension and a healthier bank balance.
Is childcare worth it?
Over the summer, you might need to pay for childcare you don’t usually use.
Before booking, do a quick check. If you’re freelance, paid hourly or run your own business, work out how much you could earn while the kids are looked after. Then compare that to the cost of childcare. If you come out ahead, it might be worth it. If not, cutting back could save you money.
If you’re on a salary, it’s less about money and more about when you can squeeze in your hours, including early mornings, late nights or during nap time if you’re lucky. And if you’re choosing childcare just to stay sane, that’s fine because it’s cheaper than therapy.
Sometimes, the best financial decisions aren’t about working more, but about working smarter.
Take turns
Instead of feeling frustrated with your spouse when you’re the one running out of a meeting to get a crying child, create a clear schedule. Who will take off when? Coordinate your holiday days to ensure you don’t lose workdays by taking time off on the same day.
Danny and Shevi* loved working from home throughout the year, but summers were always a challenge for both of them. With the kids around more, meetings often ended in chaos, and tensions ran high. This summer, they took on a new approach. They created a weekly schedule outlining when the kids would be home and who would be on duty. On their shift days, they’d start work early, avoid meetings during kid time, and, finally, end the day still smiling at each other.
A bit of planning can go a long way in preserving both your productivity and your relationships.
It takes a village
Your phone is ringing, messages are flooding your inbox, work is piling up, and the kids won’t stop complaining. Your kids need attention, but so does your work. There must be a better way.
Try contacting family members or close friends. Maybe they would be willing to have your kids over for an hour a day so you can get some uninterrupted work time. You can always return the favour once after the summer holidays.
Know other parents in the same boat? Consider setting up a childcare swap. One of you will watch all the kids one day, and the others will return the favour throughout the week. Everyone can do some focused work, and the kids get social time too.
Are you an early bird? Get a head start on your working hours before the kids wake up. Or are you a night owl? Finish your work hours at night when the house is nice and quiet.
Less chaos and more sunshine
The goal isn’t to win the best parent of the year contest, it’s to get work done and keep the kids (and yourself) sane. When you go out with the kids, look into free local activities and events that they will enjoy, and save the pricier trips for special occasions.
Not every day needs to be spectacular. Just making it through with your sense of humour intact is a success. Appreciate your small wins and get ready for a summer filled with more laughter, joy, and sunshine.