Balancing parenting with work
As a working parent a good work/life balance helps to keep you motivated, happy and in the right frame of mind. Creating quality time for you to spend with your family is important.
Here are a few tips:
1. Prioritise your free time:
Block off a day or half day at the weekend and stick to it.
2. Diarise it:
Plan something that you know you and the family will enjoy.
Even if it's watching 'X-Factor' together.
The value is being in each other's company and making it worthwhile.
3. Think of how to engage them:
It's been proven that even the most laborious of subjects can enthuse a child if portrayed in an engaging way.
Be inventive, explore your local area, go to a race evening (these are often geared towards families with a concert and loads of children's activities), learn to trampoline - the Internet is full of activities (free and not so free!) to entertain children of all ages.
4. Tell the family about it beforehand:
This commits you and them.
5. Take away ALL distractions:
For that time, turn your phone off (or put on the voicemail), lock away your Blackberry and do not turn on your computer unless it is to play a game with the children or help them with their homework!