In just a matter of weeks the school summer holidays will be upon us, and like many people who are self-employed or run their businesses from home I will again face the annual challenge of juggling work whilst looking after my children.
There are certainly pros and cons to being your own boss. I love setting my own work agenda and am lucky enough to be able to take a day off here and there when I need to, but I still need to send out orders to my lovely customers. My mum lives close by and she can help but as many of my items are personalised only I can finish them.
I usually work in the evenings during the holidays – and whenever I can grab a ‘quiet’ five minutes – and put my kids into club once a week, but this year I may need to do more.
I’m doing my first big trade show in September – Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace. It’s an important three-day event and I’m not exactly sure what to expect, so I’m desperately trying to make as much stock as possible.
I already feel very behind so that will no doubt mean extra cover for the children this summer. It all adds up – and I’m talking about the mum guilt as much as the money here!
Work aside I sometimes find the holidays tough because, let’s face it, it’s hard to keep little ones happy and entertained for a full six weeks! Am I the only one who sees Facebook posts where other mums are counting down the days until the last pick-up at the school gates and wonder if I’m the only parent not totally revelling in the thought of an entire summer with their children?!
I do cherish the lovely moments and memories made throughout those hopefully sunny weeks though and my friend Nila also recently shared a quote online that put things into perspective for me. It reads: ‘We get 18 delicious summers with our children. This is one of your 18. If that’s not perspective, I don’t know what is.’ Jessica Scott.
So this year I’m determined to savour those precious days as much as I can while also hitting my work deadlines, and also being kind to myself. And when I’m coping with an epic tantrum with needle and thread in hand I’ll try to remember that I’m only human and all us working parents are in this together!