nickylsn asks Mum & Career
Just wondered whether I am the only one out there who really doesn’t like the summer holidays. 🙁 Don’t get me wrong, I do love holidays, when they are one week, or 2 or 3. But these endless weeks of having the children around, putting my business on hold, it just seems too long. Anyone agree? Do you think I am mad? And how do you get through?
Expert answer by Carole Ann Rice – one of the UK’ s leading life coaches
Hey Nicky, you are so not alone. Even as a coach I too am aware of a dark cloud on the horizon approaching my high summer months, Thank you for being so honest. We, as mums, have these great expectations of sublime summers full of picnics, sandcastles, parks and watermelon smiles when often the reality is tantrums, un-co-operative children, fights, endlessly messy homes, expensive days out and all fitted in around your usual work schedule.
If like me you crave the solace of the silent home during the week – even not having your usual headspace can be trying.
But here’s what I know works for me:
* Sometimes children need a lot less than you think so don’t mind days where they do very little -watch movies, TV, play in garden, make things – you don’t always have to lay on entertainment – let them get bored!
* Work out a rota with other mums so you don’t always have to take them out en masse or on your own
* With work – prioritise days when you just work and you get cover for the children – don’t try to fit work in around the kids – you end up being a bad mum and an unproductive worker
* Have special days out – big trips, fee paying events once in a while – but build in incentives for them “earning” those
* Try to let go of the house being neat – it wont be and will drive you crazy trying to maintain it – like trying to sweep up leaves in an autumn hurricaine.
* Decide actively to enjoy these days – they are fleeting so don’t look back with regret when they’re grown
* Get your partner actively involved in planning days out – even if they https://www.montauk-monster.com/pharmacy/nexium can’t be there – enlist them to take on board some of the responsibility
* Remember to build in a daily treat for yourself at the end of each day – good book, nice bath, glass of wine with friends
Hope this helps. You are not alone but you can survive summer sane and with your humour still intact
Carole Ann https://www.realcoachingco.com
Expert Answer by Inge Woudstra – Working Women’s Expert
Thanks for that post Alyson, I am just the same, I feel the long summer holiday is just a bit much. I have let go of the idea that the summer holiday SHOULD be a jam packed fun time full of adventures. Yes, about 4 weeks of it. But the rest can just be finding ways of getting some work done. For this year I have booked my son in a holiday camp for a few days, we probably have grand parents coming for a while, and my husband has some time to do half days, where I get time to work. I do find I miss my own social life as well though, with most of the mums I know being away over the summer.
Expert answer by SmileyCoach – life coach, parenting coach, and coach for children and teenagers
I whole-heartedly agree Nicky. After 4 weeks, you find yourself pulling your hair out, your sense of humour has packed itself off on a Summer holiday and wine o’clock becomes more appealing!! I really like Carol Ann’s tips. Thank you!
Something else that Mum’s may find useful for bored teenagers in the Summer holidays. As a qualified Child Coach I’m putting together a Coaching Club for 11-14 year olds. Read more about it here
https://www.facebook.com/SmileyCoach#!/note.php?note_id=139876922752395
The workshop is fun and creative and includes activities such as writing a rap, baking a confidence cake, creating a poster of the changes your teen would like to see in his / her world.
I want to take some of the elements that worked at the school and do a day’s workshop locally around Esher / Weybridge. I would need about 10 kids and then to source a venue. If anybody is interested or knows people that are, please get in touch. I’m also looking at Foxhills Golf Club in Ottershaw as a potential location.