The Final Stretch: Surviving Summer’s Last Weeks As A Freelancing Parent

Summer break is almost over, but not for freelancing parents. This final stretch can feel like the hardest stretch as the novelty of having the kids at home has worn off, you’ve used up all the activities you’ve thought of, and there’s still work to be done and kids to keep entertained. 

Finding childcare is increasingly costly. For instance, many US families need summer camps but considering they can cost as much a month’s rent, many opt for alternatives. That’s why 63% of working moms report not having enough childcare during summer holidays, and 87% of working parents experience challenges when their children are home for the summer. This can mean taking extra time off to fill the gaps which can lead to income dips. 

As you gear up for these last couple of weeks, here are some tips to help you stay sane, get work done, and still enjoy time with your kids. 

It’s natural to try and schedule the whole day to a tee but, let’s face it, when the kids are at home, it’s tough to get a full day of work in. Instead, try planning two to four “power hours” in which you do your best to only focus on work. You can plan these out with your partner, maybe they work in the morning and you work in the afternoon. If that’s not an option, you can talk to your kids and explain that you will be working for a specific time and find an activity for them during that time. 

“I like to take 15 minutes either at the end of the workweek on a Friday afternoon or on a quiet Sunday morning to preview what’s coming up and what actions need to be taken,” said Lauren Gordon, career and leadership coach for working parents.  

There’s no shame in asking for help, in fact 81% of parents believe that having a support system or “village” is essential for raising children. That’s why parents rely on an average of seven people to help care for their kids. Consider the friends and family members that are willing and able to help you fill in the childcare hours gaps and call on them. Odds are they’ll be happy to help and you can always return the favor. 

“We rented an apartment across the street and began sharing meals, childcare and playdates – and yes, we even let my friends yell at our kids,” said Marina Lopes, parent, journalist, and author, “I quickly realized that communal parenting isn’t radical; it’s practical.”

Consider how to ease out of the summer season and into the back to school season by creating a specific routine for these final weeks. 

“Routines provide structure and help kids feel secure, which is why it’s so important to stick to a routine while preparing for a new school year,” according to the Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

This can look like determining an adjusted sleep and meal schedule, gradually shifting bedtimes earlier, setting regular times for reading or quiet work, and introducing small “school-ready” habits such as packing a backpack the night before. For freelancing parents, syncing your own work blocks with your child’s new routine can help you both settle into September more easily.

Summer is slower for most freelancers in general and this applies to freelancing parents. Most freelancers experience slower months in July and August, specifically, and they tend to see a spike when September comes. So breathe and trust that more work will pick up. You can create a catch-up budget to see how your finances will look past Summer and into Fall. 

“Create a forecast for next year,” according to Working Today Inc. “First things first: If you’re experiencing a slow summer, use that as information to help create your forecast for the year following.”

Any transitional phase comes with its challenges but with a little planning, a little leaning on loved ones, and a little faith in the upcoming can help you stay sane and survive the last weeks of summer.