As schools break up across the country, parents everywhere are facing six weeks of ‘the juggle’ — fitting in looking after their children, alongside working.
For some, this means taking the kids to work, for others it’s filling the weeks with exciting activities they’ll never forget.
Ivana Poku will be sending her nine-year-old twins to stay with family in Slovakia so she can continue to work on her business.
‘This is the second summer holiday my twin boys are spending summer in Slovakia (my home country) with my family.
‘Our youngest son who’s three is with us, but he goes to nursery in the mornings even during the holidays which is a great help as it allows me to work in the mornings,’ the founder of mumsjourney.com tells Metro.
Although Ivana admits it’s hard to be away from her eldest sons, it’s also the best way for her to juggle work and parenting.
‘I take the boys over to Slovakia, then fly home. Then I go back to pick them up after their stay. They spend time with my mum and my sister, and also get to see their cousin.
‘Last year was really hard. I struggled to cope and nearly booked an earlier flight. But then I remembered that this is a good experience for them and for me.’
But Beth Whatman, from Tenterden, Kent, is taking the opposite approach, taking her son Ru, who has autism, to work with her when needed and prioritising a low-stress schedule all-round.
Thankfully, being the owner of Rockits Sensory, a sensory room and soft play, affords her some flexibility. She also has her mum nearby who helps with childcare on busy days, plus a husband who can sometimes work from home.
‘My son loves a routine and to know what’s happening each day, so we have a calendar that we design together every school holiday,’ she tells Metro.
‘He draws pictures of where we are going in the calendar date boxes, which makes it a fun activity too. I’ve learnt my lesson from previous years of trying to fit lots in during the holidays; he was so overstimulated and exhausted that it wasn’t enjoyable.
‘We now just try and plan a few activities a week that I know he will love and spend the rest of our time in the garden or going for little walks.’
‘I have something planned for every day!’
Proving that no one approach is correct, Ruth Lue-Quee is taking her kids, aged five and two, to Menorca, London and Wales.
‘Last year we went travelling for two months around South East Asia, and the experiences the kids gained from travel, even at their young age, were just out of this world’ she says.
A former deputy headteacher, now educational bussiness owner, Ruth has planned daily activities for the family, from days out to play dates with friends.
‘The teacher in me loves having the time to help my children learn and play more over the summer,’ she says.
‘It’s a mix of both things they want to do and things I think they will really enjoy or things I know will help them to develop key skills in a playful way over summer, ready for September when it’s back to school.’
If that sounds exhausting, Emma Muir will be looking after nine children this summer – and giving them a summer to remember.
As a childminder she’s challenged with entertaining toddlers to teens, as her own kids aged 11 and 16 will also be in her care.
‘This summer I’m determined to give the children the kind of childhood memories that stick — National Trust picnics, boat rides, beaches, parks, forest trails, and everything in between,’ explains Emma, who’s also the founder of Nurture Parents.
‘Juggling ages one to 16 while trying to give everyone a fun, memorable summer is a balancing act, and even as a professional, I sometimes struggle (and fail!).
‘My 11-year-old is happy to help if he has a clear task — and a chocolate brownie as bribery. My 16-year-old supports in a quieter way, mainly by being independent and self-sufficient.’
Although she’s working most of the summer, she’s squeezing in some camping with her own family and ‘having a bit of time off before my 16-year-old gets his GCSE results’.
My son’s going to holiday clubs so I can have some me time!
Finally as a teacher, Lavania Oluban doesn’t need to worry about juggling work and the holidays (well, aside from a bit of planning). And the mum fully intends to enjoy her time off – by paying for childcare.
‘I am a huge advocate for parents to have some me time,’ says Lavania, who is a blogger at The Adventures of Me.
This year, her eight-year-old son is attending a local summer club with various activities including sports and swimming once a week
It’ll cost £26 per day, but she says it’s worth it.
‘It means I can head to the gym and get some chores done without him getting under my feet.
‘It’s expensive, I decided to change my entire career five years ago and train to be a teacher because of the costs of childcare and availability of annual leave (four weeks a year when there’s 13 weeks of school holidays).
‘I think burnout is a real thing and if you don’t take care of yourself it’s impossible to put your best foot forward for your kids.’
