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I have two school-aged children. During the school year, I drop them off at school in the morning and I am there to pick them up at the end of the school day. They attend public school. I do not pay for tuition or childcare.
During the summer, it’s an entirely different story. The kids are out of school and I am challenged with how to balance work, summer fun, and the budget.
Here’s the summer skinny (and if you are about to become a new parent, many of the same ideas apply…you are experiencing a change in schedule):
1. Increased costs. My annual budget now includes a summer camp and childcare line item. Here’s one way to keep costs at bay: trade services. Some camps are really expensive, especially if you have more than one child. This summer, I traded some of my marketing expertise with a camp so my children can attend this one week camp for free.
2. Scheduling jigsaw puzzle (the more children, the more difficult the puzzle). I have an Excel spreadsheet that maps out what each of my children are doing each week during the summer for camp and/or childcare and the associated cost with each. I usually start this schedule 4-6 weeks in advance of the summer while I collect summer camp materials from various sources. I also have fun time built in to the schedule – vacations, day trips, and afternoons/days that are just “open”.
3. Adapting expectations. During the school year, I am able to accomplish my work in larger, continuous blocks of time. During the summer, my schedule is more erratic. My expectations of what and when I am capable of doing something have to change. One tip: have more than one babysitter you can call on during the summer in case one has to cancel due to illness.
How do you balance being a mompreneur during the summer? Leave a comment and share your ideas!
P.S. One of Psi Bands’ goals is to land another large retailer (more than 5,000 stores).
Read Romy's other blog entries >
Top 3 Things No One Told You About Being a Mompreneur During the Summer
