Living in the UK has its upsides and unfortunately, has its downsides. With young kids tugging at the apron strings, a long list of household chores and a 40-hour work week, being a working mom is no easy feat. But it sure is possible. With the right list of priorities and the help of a reputable au pair agency in London, the juggling act can be easier. Here’s how.
- Embracing your decision
Women can be torn between staying at home with their young children and heading off to work. But just because you may feel guilty about having a full time job doesn’t mean you are guilty. You need to embrace your decision to work and know that it’s the right one for you and your young family.
Image by Donnie Ray Jones via Flickr
- Have a great time in place
Find the people, places and things in your suburb that will support you and help to make life easier. You don’t need a large group of helpers – the larger the social network the more chance people will need to rely on you too. Consider recruiting a trustworthy minder from an au pair agency in London who can look after your kids until you get in from work.
- Speaking of childcare
Quality childcare is an absolute must. Instead of a day care centre, an au pair can help your young children to prosper in the place they’re most comfortable – the home. Not only this, but most au pairs will also help with housework and preparing meals. You can have a look at Go Au Pair if you’re interested in hiring somebody like this. Alternatively, mothers and fathers can do split-shifts looking after children.
- Always make time for you
If work and family life take up all of your time, chance are you’re going to forget about time for yourself. Don’t neglect the much-needed R&R time by simply relaxing with a book or taking a class or indulging in some sort of hobby just for you.
This might be easier said than done. But even a relaxing bubble bath once the kids are fed, bathed and in bed can make all the difference to your sanity. And it’s during me-time that an au pair agency can help free up some time by keeping kids busy while you take even an hour out for you.
Image by Donnie Ray Jones via Flickr
- Be flexible with your boundaries
When your young kids fall sick, you may just have to miss a meeting or two at work. Or if you’re piled high with work, you may just have to spend less time with the family. A little give and take is just fine, but there’s a limit. You’ll want to avoid always taking resources from one sphere of life to give to another. Instead, stay focused on one area at a time.
This doesn’t mean putting up a brick wall between family and work. Be flexible and let your family know who you need at the time.
- Keep organised
Working mothers need to be really organised. For example, avoid the morning scavenger hunt for preschool bags and shoes by getting everything out the night before, having meals prepared in advance and that sort of thing. Some working mothers recommend keeping a notebook with a running like of items to be bought at the store, daily appointments to be kept and tasks that need to be completed.
- Make your meals easy
A slow cooker, pressure cooker and halogen oven are a working mother’s best friends. Instead of spending hours doing grocery shopping, try shopping online and have everything delivered too to save on heaps of time. But don’t skimp on the meal front or turn to fast food to try and sneak in more time with the family. Cook in advance and freeze healthy, nutritious meals.
- Make sure the kids go to bed early
Young children, it is recommended, should have lights out by 8pm at the latest for a healthy amount of sleep. This will also give the parents some deserved alone time.
Final Word
If you work long hours, look into hiring someone from an au pair agency in London to help organise your children and turn the juggling act between work and family into a seamless mix.
