| 1. Commit To Your Schedule | | | | Whatever your care arrangements are for your |
| I remember going back to work after maternity | | | | children – make sure the carer knows how |
| leave (of about 14 weeks!) and how I had | | | | important it is that they’re on time and do |
| discussed with my boss before going back that | | | | what they say they’re going to do. If |
| I’d have to leave by 5pm each day, no | | | | you’re going to have to raise the game at |
| exceptions. Anyway on day 3 of me being back | | | | work because you’ve now got less |
| my boss passes me in the corridor and says, | | | | out-of-hours flexibility, then you can’t afford |
| ‘We’ve got a meeting with that new | | | | to have your head on the kids every 20 minutes |
| client at 5pm on Thursday’. I say, | | | | thinking ‘I hope they’re all right’, |
| ‘Great, I won’t be able to be there, but I | | | | ‘should I ring to check?’ Trust your |
| can send Sally to take notes. Or we can | | | | carers (or don’t have them support you). |
| reschedule’. My boss then asked me | | | | Thank them often. Check regularly with your |
| ‘Why not’ and I told her ‘I’ve | | | | children about how it’s working. |
| got to be at home by 6pm’. She then | | | | |
| asked if I had problems with my childcare. To | | | | 4. Explain 'Work' To Your Children |
| which I replied, ‘It’s no problem, the | | | | My daughter is forever asking me to do the |
| childcare is great and in place, 8am to 6pm, | | | | school runs and to ‘just not go to |
| Monday to Friday. I’m as committed as I | | | | work’. I’ve had to explain about all the |
| ever was. And I’m 100% available inside | | | | extra things that we can now enjoy because I |
| those time frames.” | | | | work – holidays, new clothes, the ice cream |
| So, when we’re clear about our timings and | | | | van treats. Plus, I’ve explained that even |
| our boundaries, we can communicate them clearly | | | | though we’ve lived in our house for a long |
| and most often, get what works best for us. | | | | time, I still have to pay the bank for it every |
| 2. Manage Expectations At Work And At Home | | | | month, plus gas, electricity, water, phone, mobile, |
| There’s no point in putting in strong | | | | internet, petrol, food, tax, savings, travel … an |
| boundaries around your office time, then taking | | | | endless list. |
| work home with you. If there’s too much | | | | It’s also good to share some of that |
| work to do in your contracted hours, you need to | | | | responsibility with our children. Recently, my |
| work with your boss and team to restructure. | | | | daughter has had to do the bath-time routine |
| Sounds tough, I know. But balance is about | | | | herself once a week and keep herself amused |
| claiming back what’s going to work best for | | | | and quiet for half an hour afterwards while I run |
| you bit by bit. And try not to see this as selfish | | | | an evening teleclass series from my home |
| – the reality is that it’s responsible and | | | | office. All these conversations and lessons help |
| it’ll allow the company to have you working | | | | to gradually grow our children into responsible |
| for them happier and more balanced over time. | | | | teenagers and towards adulthood step-by-step. |
| Also, there are the expectations of our children to | | | | 5. Holidays And Downtime |
| manage. If we’re not focused with them | | | | This is a balancing act, especially if you have to do |
| during our home time, we may as well still be at | | | | weekend and holiday planning with the |
| work. And let’s face it, there are only a few | | | | children’s other parent. Try to keep a work |
| hours between being home in the evening and the | | | | head for work time, a home head for home time |
| children going to bed (2 – 4 hours max), so | | | | and a holiday head for holidays. If you have |
| try to make those hours count. | | | | weekends without the children and you think |
| 3. Get Good Childcare | | | | you’ll miss them – plan an activity to |
| If you have to pay a bit extra for good childcare, | | | | focus on. I do coffee with friends, catch up on |
| then do it. I’ve had nurseries that have had | | | | movies I haven’t seen, go to the gym, have |
| a good Montessori learning and organic food | | | | long baths and sleep late – fills in a weekend! |
| programs that I’ve paid extra for. And | | | | And if you’re holidaying alone with the children |
| I’ve had nannies that I’d trust with my | | | | focus on the good things. Make sure you get an |
| all. I’ve also had nannies that call in sick at | | | | hour each day (maybe when the children are |
| the last minute or don’t turn up at all! | | | | sleeping) to sit with a glass of wine, count your |
| I’ve had school mums commit time to helping | | | | blessings and imagine how you’re going to |
| me during term time and I’ve had friends | | | | make next year even better than this one! |
| offer to jump in and support me last minute. | | | | |