Freelancing with a pre-schooler
A while ago, I wrote a blog post about my experience of
growing a freelance copywriting business, holding down a part-time job, and
raiding a 2 year old (read it here). Well, now my 2 year old is a 3 year old,
and how thigs have changed! When you have children, things can change at
lightning speed, and so when I read that last blog post back, I realised it
needed updating. In just over a year, my daughter demands different things, can
do much more for herself, and has a completely different schedule. In some
ways, this makes things easier, and in some ways much, much harder.
Shortly after her third birthday, I was entitled to apply
for 30 childcare hours. Those who have subscribed to this scheme will know that
in reality, those hours are allocated during term-time, and to get childcare
over the whole year, the hours are divided between 51 weeks. So instead of
getting 3 free days, I get 2.
Around the same time, my family situation changed – my mum
and auntie were no longer able to commit to taking care of her on a regular
basis. So I really needed those 3 days at pre-school. I had no option but to
pay for the additional day, but as my regular job is 3 days per week, that left
me with no days to freelance…
Thankfully, my mother-in-law was able to step in, so I now
have 1 day at home to freelance. And I really have to make that one day count.
If I was asked for advice for freelancing with a pre-schooler, it would be
this:
Get childcare
established. By this point, it should be much easier in that you’ll pretty
much know what your child needs with regards to childcare, and will hopefully
have already got this sorted. Of course, if you have relatives on standby who
can take your little dears for a day or 2, then this will save you a lot of
cash, but bear in mind that they are doing this as a favour, and having their
own lives can’t be taken advantage of. Get your 30 hours sorted out as early as
possible so that you at least have something in place.
Create a work
schedule. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t plan my workload. To me it’s
absolutely essential and without it I’d get nothing done. I’m a great advocate
for bullet journaling, but even a simple diary works. Plan plan plan!!
Spend time with your
child. I know it’s a cliché, but they really do grow up so fast! Don’t miss
out on the early years because you are too busy working. You will never get
that time back.
And on that note – Spend
time with yourself!! You’re now at the stage where your child’s routines
are pretty well established, and they are a bit less needy and a bit more
predictable. Take a bit of time out now and again, while she is watching her
favourite film, or playing make believe, or when she’s gone to bed. Remember
that you are more than just a mummy, you are a human being, and deserve to just
have time to be yourself once in a while (thanks for my MIL for these words of
wisdom!!).