Juggling children & Business – video blog
Posted by Joanne on January 22, 2012
I’m becoming semi addicted to video blogging! I’m actually really enjoying the experience! Although I must stop looking at the number of views as that is quite addictive too!
Just incase you didn’t have time to jot them down here are my top tip :-
- Remind yourself why you run a business and juggle children … if I’m up late sewing or writing, I remind myself that I work for myself from home so that I can enjoy the time with my children as this time is precious and if a day at the beach means late night sewing so be it.
- Balance your activities i.e. I take the children to soft play, the beach or the park in the morning when we get home I set them up with an unsupervised activity while I write or sew. I find my children much more agreeable to give me 5 minutes peace and they understand mummy works so they can have days out. This is also a great way to teach your children skills such as compromise.
- On rainy days activities at the dinning table such as playdough, drawing can provide you with 30 minutes respite to work if need be … I sit down with my children and the laptop. That way I can still engage with them and help roll those playdough sausages! Baking – this is a great activity as you have the 20/30 minutes respite in between where they cakes are baking/cooling to answer any emails.
- Compromise – Activities that have a measurable end goal make it easier for children to digest information – developing their understanding. When you work from home it can be harder for children to see working mummy and play mummy as two different people.
- Don’t try and take or make phone calls when the children are about. Mine talk to me constantly when I’m on the phone but ignore me when I’m not!! Plus I can guarantee one of them will need the toilet but instead of going as per usual they feel the need to announce this fact rather loudly.
- Have more than one child
Obviously this is slightly tongue in cheek but if you do have multiple children they are always able to come up with activities to keep themselves amused. A pile of blankets, pegs, cardboard boxes and chairs are always a big hit at my house, providing hours of amusement. - Don’t stress about what other businesses are doing.
Kizzy said,
fab video, this something I really need to start doing!
Elaine said,
Fab video… Love point six – when I watched the video I thought you meant the more you have the more practiced you are at juggling! Point seven is the most important and needs remembering – just be the best you can be.
Sarah said,
It’s is 7:00 in the morning here, my entire family is still asleep, so I admit that I didn’t actually watch the video and just read the points (thank you so much for putting them up there BTW!). I have 3 small children (a 2-yr-old, a 1-yr-old and a 1-mo-old), and have recently started up a crochet business (www.familybugs.net). Thankfully I can work pretty fast, and my children take 2-3 hour naps during the day with early bed times. I have taught my children from early ages to help me with the housework which they love to do, and then I take advantage of these sleeping periods to get my “work” done. I LOVE being able to work from home, I consider it a great luxury, but it also requires some balancing skills.
Ian Hamilton said,
Oh, how I envy you having children to look after … not! Seriously, well done – you’re an inspiration!
Lesley Johnston-Boers said,
Point 7 is really important and I need to keep reminding myself about this one. I always feel that everyone else knows what they are doing and don´t appear to make any mistakes. Not the real world is it!
Joanne said,
Glad you have all enjoyed my video blog
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