Musings of a Working Mum :Back to School Edition
It has been a few months since I last put finger-to-keyboard and the reality of life’s competing pressures has been brought home in many ways over that time. I have wanted to put some thoughts down but for various reasons, I did not. I own that failing and recognise that at least subconsciously, I chose to give up that option in favour of other more pressing priorities.
I have somehow survived the mammoth 8-weeks of summer holidays and Lord only knows how that’s happened considering I don’t get that much holiday in the year, much less over summer. Others may relate to the sheer panic/guilt/frustration the prospect of the summer holidays brings for working parents. Questions of what to do with the kids to ensure they have fun, balanced against the need to keep them intellectually stimulated; Be it via a comprehensive academic timetable, summer clubs or other extracurricular activities all balanced against the cutting edge of budget
considerations and the fact that work continues to pour in summer holiday or no. Your targets (if you have them don’t reduce) nor do clients fully disappear (though it does get a little quieter). All of which are underpinned by a slight hint of frustration that the final package invariably boils down to a form of compromise that feels far from ideal.
Never has the benefits of good support structures been more appreciated than when you realise that you don’t have to manage this all on your own! Okay, not everyone can call on the grandparents day-care for the whole period (I had the luxury last year but this year was more challenging:). However, if my weekly juggling thought me anything it was that you need to rely on those around you to get through demanding periods. In my case, it was an eclectic mix of family, friends (who are practically family), annual leave and good old summer sports camps!
Spinning plates don’t stop spinning when you panic if anything the tempo seemingly increases, instead you need to take a step back and recognise that in the mayhem of moving parts there is some rhythm and the rest is noise. The health and wellbeing of you and your kids is important, having a timetabled fun fest lasting 8 weeks is less so. To maintain equilibrium you drill down to the absolutes; my kids need to be safe and happy, I need to stay sane and at the same time my job needs me to keep performing — Everything else is noise! Just because others may have summer childcare locked down (which would often consist of exotic holidays and endless fun), doesn’t make you a bad parent if you can only manage a staycation and/or need to send the kids for a few summer clubs (some are really great fun) and if the budget won’t stretch to those sharing childcare with parents with similar aged children is fine too.
There are always going to be more things to do than time to do them. Coming up for air, who would have thought I would ever welcome/relish the school run!!, I am reminded that no matter what life throws at us we just need to do the best with the hand we are dealt and not allow ourselves be overburdened by external pressures and norm.
Yes, plan ahead and strive to give your family the best but never let it drive you off-kilter or push you into the doldrums everyone loses in that scenario!
