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Critical Pointers On Planning Your Time As A Working Mum

29th September, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Guess what time of year it is, the month of September, known to be both nerve-racking and exhilarating for parents and their children, whether they are just starting their educational journey or have been involved for some time. Despite the big build-up to the September send-off, the school year is a long ten months that requires continued parental management and involvement. The working mum might not know what to do, as she tries to balance the vocations associated with her career, alongside the responsibility of managing the kids. This can be so overwhelming, that you might feel as if you are on a precarious tightrope in a circus, as you plan your business lunches, drive the kid’s back-and-forth to their piano lessons or ballet, arrange to meet with the teachers and so on. When you do feel a bit loony and in need of a good vent, make sure you’ve got an online coaching website bookmarked for some aid and support! Until then, make sure that you prepare carefully, so that both you and the children enjoy the school experience over the next 12 months. Follow the helpful pointers below to make your year a success.

Keep in Touch with the Classroom

Maintaining a relationship with your son or daughter’s school can help you keep abreast of all developments that affect your child’s education. If possible, meet the teacher a week or two in advance especially if your child is young as introducing them to their new classroom ahead of time can help ease any fears or anxieties they might have. Get a hold of a calendar of events from the school, so that you know how to follow along with your child’s adventures. Keep track of any questions or concerns and address them at Parent-Teacher interview nights, but ask your teacher to contact you earlier should any significant problems arise. Make sure that you go to all those PTA meetings whenever they take place and if you have the spare time, make yourself a volunteer for fund-raising events or those bake sales. Getting acquainted with the other parents and kids lets you know who your child is socialising with while allowing you to make new contacts and friends on the side!

Bring the Classroom to Your Home

When it comes to a potentially successful school year ahead, it’s all about communicating and organising. Involving your children in planning and decision-making validates their opinions and gives them a sense of control over their educational experience. Before school begins, get them to help you set up a homework-station where they’ll feel comfortable studying. When they have decided, put all those supplies and storage boxes in place, so that their school work can feel structured and organised. On the wall nearby, put up a large calendar to help both parents and children keep track of any out of school activities, important tests or upcoming holidays. Each Sunday, gather everyone together to review the upcoming week’s schedule and make planning a fun family affair!

What is Your Plan of Action?

It would be nice if we could plan for everything. Your after-school baby-sitter might cancel last minute if she’s stuck in bed with a sudden bout of the flu, or your latch-key child might forget his key on the bus ride home. This is when you have to be ready for anything and have a plan of action in the back of your mind. Keep the lines of communication open and periodically check in with your kids to see if they’ve got concerns. Working mums are usually apprehensive about school requirements, especially the potential for unfinished homework or the worry that a particular child may be falling behind and not having enough one-on-one interaction with the teacher. And you add that to your Monday morning deadline and Wednesday’s marketing presentation, and you’ve got a lot on your hands and mind! When the responsibility seems unmanageable, that’s the perfect time for some professional coaching. A good Life Coach can help you to understand how to strike a balance between home and work, while ensuring that the school year progresses smoothly all the way through to the end.

Amanda Alexander, Director of Coaching Mums, helps pressure-cooked, stressed working mums who long for more hours in the day. Through her coaching programmes and online coaching courses, Amanda shows mums how to create fulfilling and successful lives. For your simple 5 step guide to balance as a working mum, download our free eBook today!