Summertime Survival for Parent Entrepreneurs

During the winter months, we long for days of fun in the sun with the kids and a more leisurely pace to our lives. But by the time the Fourth of July rolls around, many parents begin double-checking the calendar for the first day of school.

This is especially true for work-at-home parents whose work schedule has hit a brick wall, either because of kids' boredom, or because there's a lack of planned activities. We all want the summer months to be memorable for our families, but we also need them to be productive to keep our businesses running smoothly.

What can you put in place to reduce or, better yet, eliminate the stress?

Figuring out the solution can be a family project. If your kids are old enough, plan a time to talk about the various ideas they have for the summer. You may have to set a budget or find carpool buddies to share travel time. Also, encourage ideas and activities that are free.

Put a structure in place: Schedule work times as well as activities and events for the kids and the family. A schedule lets children know what to expect and gives them a variety of activities to look forward to.

Create an event schedule--Mondays are craft days, Tuesdays are field trip days, etc.--and have theme weeks, too. Finding activities centered on the theme week that kids can do independently gives you time to focus on your work. For example, camping week could include using a pile of blankets to build a tent, which can entertain the kids for hours.

Field trips can provide a fun break and an opportunity for shared time. For camping theme week, take a nature hike or have the kids catch bugs. A theme week based on the Olympics can include sports events at the local park. Another week can be art week, with a trip to the museum.

To prevent interruptions in your scheduled work time, hire a high school or college student to come in when you need to work. He or she can play with the kids and help with a few chores around the house. The student can also chauffeur kids to and from their activities.

Try to schedule activities at about the same time for each child, so you don't have to leave the house as often. Also, if you coordinate with neighbor kids, you'll be able to schedule work time around carpooling.

The opportunity to spend time with your family is a gift. Teaching your children to be independent and to develop a good work ethic are also gifts to be shared. Having your children around for the summer means you can spend quality time with them--and also teach valuable skills associated with being a home-based entrepreneur.