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Scheduling and Time Management
Answer:
Summer is an exciting time for everyone. The days are longer and fun is in the air for adults and kids alike. But for working moms, summer represents a new set of challenges, juggling short-term solutions and an ever-changing schedule for transportation and child care. This can wreak havoc on your commitments at work, so try these suggestions to stay ahead of the game:
Step 1: If you're finding the camp and work schedules are conflicted, you need to make some changes to ease the strain. First, look at the camp environment to find some flexibility. Identify the problem areas and find a solution. For example, if start and end times are a problem each day, find another parent you can team up with to coordinate transportation and possibly even to close that 1/2 hour gap from the time camp ends to the time you can arrive to collect your kids. If you have gaps in your summer camp schedule that present child-care challenges, review your options now and see if you can find an alternative camp that will better suite your family's needs. Although many camps have full rosters, there are always last minute cancellations and you may be able to benefit from that with a few phone calls. If you find your kids on opposite ends of town during the same time frames, going back to your list of camps and keeping geography in mind is a necessary step.
Step 2: Talk to your employer about adjusting your work schedule. The American workplace is an ever-changing demon and even in these times of down-sizing and change, particularly in the technology sector, the unconventional schedule is an accepted notion. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that summer time telecommuting one day a week, half days, or simply adjusting your hours are all options your company will entertain. The key in handling this is to be clear about your desire to perform 110% and your willingness to be flexible. To that end, you may have to eat some vacation time or personal days to make it happen, but the peace of mind you gain from knowing your kids are content and your job performance will not suffer will be worth the adjustment.
Any Mom knows that the notion of having it all is a far reaching concept without hard work. Successful scheduling is the hidden key to making that notion a reality. Having it all in the summer for your family means meeting the change in schedules head on with productive solutions for both you and your children. It requires forecasting the needs, providing solutions, and adjusting things if they don't work out. Remember, you are always your best ally so be resourceful. You may be pleasantly surprised at how easy finding a summer groove can be. Have fun!
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