Do you struggle to make family time because of odd work hours? What working moms can do to make more family time.
You want to provide your family with the best life has to offer, and providing the best often requires money. You need to pay for the roof that you put over their heads, the food that goes into their bellies, and the clothes that keep them warm. Unless independently wealthy, work is probably necessary for you to provide these things, and your job may not have the most conventional hours.
Whether your job requires a night shift, hours on the weekend, or even days away at a time, you are providing the monetary support that your family needs, but the other support they require may be missing from the equation – family time with you! Having to work odd hours makes spending quality family time together tough, but have no fear, it can be done! With a little planning, you can give your family everything that they need – monetary support and a loving, caring mom.
Wondering how you can achieve that work-quality time balance? Here are a few great suggestions.
Make Your Own Routines
Although perhaps unable to tuck your child in at night, that doesn’t mean you can’t participate in all of those nightly rituals that parents and children hold so dear. Give her a bath, read a story, and sing her a lullaby, all before nap time. It doesn’t really matter when you spend family time together, just that you make an effort to be present and available, away from work. If she doesn’t take a nap, make a special time that is just for your own routines together. Have her help you make lunch and then read a story to her after lunch, for example.
When you create your own routines, your child will come to look forward to those, despite odd work hours. Familiar routines are what your child craves and needs.
Offer Reminders
Family time doesn’t have to be after hours. The benefits of presence, love and care can happen in little ways throughout the day. Let your little ones know that you are thinking of them, even when you aren’t with them. When you pack their lunch, write a note to them and tuck it inside their lunch sacks. Give them lockets with pictures of you inside to wear. Make a recording of you reading a book aloud and they can play it and read along with you before they go to bed.
Make Phone Calls
Make phone calls to your kids when you are working. If you are working at night, call them right before they go to bed so that you can say goodnight. If you are still at work when they rise in the morning, call them to say good morning and wish them a good day.
Sometimes, hearing your voice is all that your kids need in order to remind them how much you love them. Plus, getting a special phone call just for them is exciting and they’ll look forward to when you call. Your voice is your presence and that measures up to spending more family time together.
[Tweet “Wondering how you can achieve that work-quality #time balance? “]
Be Available During the Daytime
If you work at night, make the most of your daytime hours together. While you do need to get some rest for yourself, sometimes, sacrificing a little sleep is necessary in order to be there for your kids (do those 2 am feedings come to mind?) Take your child on play dates or go out for a special lunch together. You may be tired, but that hour you spend with your child will have lasting effects on her self-esttem.
Make the Most of Days Off
On your days off, choose to make them all about family time. Plan special family activities – go to an amusement park, play at the playground, or have a picnic. Do something special with your kids on your days off to let them know how much you love them.
While tempting to pull out the vacuum and tend to the housekeeping, remember that cobwebs will always be there; your children won’t be little forever. The unique moments you create with them give them something to be excited about when you’re working.
Although work is a necessary evil. If you work odd hours, don’t think that you have to miss out on quality time with your family. Although you may have to use some unconventional tactics, creating special routines with your kids reminds them how much you care. Apply these tactics to your daily life and you can have family time despite odd work hours!
I’m excited to share this article written by Naomi J. Shaw, a freelance writer from Southern California. After being a stay at home mom for years, and then beginning to work, she knows that it can be very difficult to balance family and work. She contributes to the Candy Concepts Inc. blog, where you can read more of her work here.
Thank you so much Naomi! These tips are great for us working moms! I’m a BIG fan of most of them, and yes – they still make a difference with my teens!
What tips do you have to share for other working moms that make family time a priority? Please share them below!
To contact Naomi directly, you may find her at https://naomijshaw.jux.com/
