Summer Working, Balance and Guilt

I blog. This much is obvious, but I also work on a freelance basis. I do some market research work, I ghost write for businesses and blogs, and do other paid writing work. Hooray, I’m getting there… but what the bloody hell will I do over summer?

We have lots of outings planned during the summer, to air shows, to visit friends and a short holiday away – but the rest of the time it’ll be playing at home / in the garden (weather permitting) and short day trips. School finishes today and I am yet to work out just how I’m going to get the work done and spend quality time with the boys. Up until now, Kieran has been at school every day and Taylor (possibly the most laid back baby ever) has been easy to work around. My (fabulous) Mum takes Taylor one day a week so I can have a proper “heads down” day and over the summer Kieran will go to a playscheme one day a week while Taylor is visiting with Grandma so that’s one day…. urm?!

Do you have any Summer-holiday working tips? I am looking forward to having them both at home and having fun but DO need to work (pesky bills and all that) so how can I get the balance right between the two without subjecting them to a summer of seeing the top of Mummy’s head over a laptop screen?

What do you do, how do you organise you time? Is it possible to have it all, the fun and the “proper” work-time?

 

 

Giving Children Tools & a Voice

If I am grieving, I know why, I understand what bereavement is, that I will have to travel through several stages and that, eventually I will be able to cope better with my sadness and loss. As an adult I feel empowered to be able to freely discuss my feelings with others and can articulate them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children don’t always have the tools needed to get their head around many of the tough situations and feelings they might experience. I’m not “just” talking about bereavement but bullying, dealing with friendships, changes such as family break-ups, growing up, new additions to the family and more.

The Partnership For Children charity recognises this and have produced two guides which contain age appropriate books for children to read / have read to them which explore these issues and more, giving children something to align with their own feelings, to help them recognise what they feel, why and how to move forward.

Some of you may know that previously I ran a booking business for three years so obvioulsy reading / books mean somthing special to me, but as a Mum I can see them as a real gift to my children, helping them explore, create and learn. These guide are an excellent way of highlight the books that can help our precious ones with their difficult times.

There are two guides, one aimed at ages 5-8 and the other 9-12. I have included one book from each guide to give you an idea of the type of titles that have been highlighted, and why!

Author Susan Varley
Illustrator Susan Varley
Reading age 7+
Interest level 4+

Review When Badger dies, his friends are very sad, but one by one they recall the special things he gave them during his lifetime.

By sharing these fond memories, they realise that although he is no longer with them physically, he will always be in their hearts.

A succesful book that deals gently and clearly with issues of loss and death for young children.

Publisher Picture Lions
Published 1994
Price £5.99
ISBN 9780006643173

Hurricane Wills 

Author Sally Grindley
Reading age 9+
Interest level 10+

Review Chris’s older brother Wills has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and crash, bang, wallops through the house like a hurricane.

When Dad moves out, things get even worse, and Chris retreats to the public library for some privacy – until Wills’s nasty friends track him down and events spiral out of control.

This is a good insight into the tensions of living with someone who has ADD, as Chris tries to be himself, support his Mum, spend time with his Dad, and still be the supportive brother that Wills needs.

Publisher Bloomsbury
Published 2006
Price £5.99
ISBN 9780747590958

You can order the guides or dowload as a PDF from the Partnership For Children Website and there are two ways to order the books while supporting the PFC’s work:

For orders over £15 you can fax or post you order form to KBC books, who will invoice you, and the Partnership will recieve a percentage of the sale. For orders under (or over if you prefer!) you can order via Amazon (there is a link under each title on the Partnership website and ordering via these links will again gain the Partnership a percentage to help them continue the work they do.

The next time you are buying books for your children, perhaps some of these would be a wise investment?