I’m so ready for summer! Today I’m sharing how I’m planning for summer as a mompreneur and how I’m going to keep working (semi) full time even with Jett at home all summer!
This is my first summer as a work-from-home mom that I won’t have full time childcare. That scares the crap out of me. I’ve been really blessed that for all these years, we have been able to afford childcare so that I could work from home. But now that we haven’t had to pay for daycare full time anymore (hello giant raise!) I’m not keen on adding it back in to the budget!
Planning for Summer as a Mompreneur
I’ve never been good at balancing being a mom and working at home. I always end up getting frustrated and short with Jett because even when I give him a task or project (or let’s be honest, the iPad) he is always right there, asking me a question or to do something or to come snuggle with him. And then I feel guilty that I’m choosing work over being with him, even though I need to work in order to get the light bill paid around here. It is a seriously vicious cycle that I find myself in whenever he is home and I need to work that makes me bow down at the altar of all those moms out there who do it all the time. (HOW DO YOU DO IT? TELL ME YOUR SECRETS).
So this summer, I’m making some plans, changing some expectations, and going to really enjoy having Jett home for those 12 or so short weeks while still fulfilling my client obligations and my own personal blogging stuff. (Or at least, this is what I am hoping will happen!)
First of all, I’m completely changing my office hours up for my clients. Instead of being around all day, I’m going to take afternoons off and only work from 9 am to 1 pm every day (more on why those hours in a bit, and don’t worry, I’ll be officially notifying them too lol) I want to be able to have fun with Jett in the afternoons and go to the pool two to three times a week, maybe go to the beach a day here or there, and add in some other fun stuff like the zoo or maybe even the water park if I’m feeling extra adventurous.
I’m definitely planning on being outside more. Even if it is hot. I’m adopting the idea of “summer cozy” from Kelsey from the Girl Next Door Podcast. It is hot, I’m going to be sweaty, and I’m just going to learn to live with it. I think I’m going to keep a cooler in the car with some iced down drinks and snacks in it, maybe eat ice cream and popsicles more often, and stay in the water as much as I can. I am just mentally preparing myself for that now, because I know once the heat actually gets here, I’ll just want to hibernate indoors in the air conditioning.
I’m going to take full advantage of the childcare I will have. Part of my husband’s package at work includes 12 hours a week of childcare in the church nursery for free. I’ve used a few hours here or there since we have lived here, but I’ve never taken full advantage of it. So three days a week, Jett is going to go to the nursery (they have programming for kids of all ages, not just babies) from 9 – 1 and I’m going to work at the church or walk over to Hughes Landing, which is a little row of shops and restaurants next to the church. I plan on getting a bulk of my weekly client work done during these times.
I’m also going to have a babysitter (our current babysitter) watch him for a full day two days a week so that I can do blog stuff and house stuff on those two days. That will give me a substantial amount of childcare a week so that I can do the things I need to do but will still give me a flexible schedule so that Jett and I (and Chris on Fridays) can have some fun too!
I have two magical words for you: SUMMER CAMPS. I didn’t really do a lot of camps growing up, and since we’ve moved here I didn’t understand why there were so many summer camps around here. BUT NOW I GET IT. I have Jett enrolled in several summer camps: flag football, soccer, science camp, and church camp through our church. He is going to LOVE going to those, and I’m glad he will be learning something at them, making some new friends, and still getting to do some fun stuff during the day.
I’m also majorly changing my expectations. I generally have a vision in my head of how things “should” go, and when they don’t go that way I have a tendency to go off the rails. I want to be realistic about what I can get done and what I can’t so that I can actually slow down this summer and enjoy it. Every day will be a new adventure and I’m looking forward to learning to roll with the punches and be a little less structured.
Now of course, that means all of these grand plans mean that I will need to ready to work in times that I can squeeze it in here and there, so I’ll have to be at the ready! That is where my Lily Jade bag will come in! Lily Jade is known for their luxurious diaper bags, but did you realize that they also come in really handy as totes and carry-alls as well? My Lori bag is the perfect size to have my work equipment with me, like my computer and planner, while still having lots of room to throw my bathing suit and sunscreen in there too.
Lily Jade bags are a little expensive, but they are 100% worth the investment. They are made to last with the softest leather, and the inside material is durable and soft as well (not scratchy like some of my other computer bags have been). They also have hardware on them that instantly turns them from a shoulder bag into a backpack, so I can do all my work and mom duties completely hands free. All you other mamas out there know you cannot put a price tag on that.
This is actually my third Lily Jade bag to own and when it comes to quality, they pull out all the stops. In addition to having that amazing soft leather and plush inside, they pay attention to all of the details. It has a beautiful tassel on the handle, and I love that the leather is double-sided (and not one sided) because it just shows how much care they put into every little thing on their bags!
My other summer accessory this year will be my new bike that Chris got me for my birthday! I’ve named her Pearl and she has already been so much fun! We live in a neighborhood where literally everything we could need (a post office, a Starbucks, a grocery store, a pizza place, the pool, and the park) are all within a mile of our house. So I asked for a bike that I could use to ride around the hood with Jett this summer and this lovely lady is perfect! As you can see, Jett is also in love with her too – although he can’t really ride her yet. Chris taught Jett a few weeks ago how to ride his bike without training wheels and he is obsessed with bike rides! My Lily Jade bag in backpack mode is the perfect way to get around on my bike.
Outfit Details: Top (Size up, wearing in XL) // Jeans (TTS, wearing in 12) // Hat // Bike
So how are you planning for summer this year? Do you have any big vacations planned? Share with me in the comments below!
Many thanks to Lily Jade for sponsoring this blog post. I only work with brands and share products that I love and truly believe in, and Lily Jade is one of those brands. All opinions are my own. Photography provided by Mandi Roach Photography – if you’re in the market for a family photographer in The Woodlands or Spring, I highly recommend her!
This summer will be filled with lots of travel watching my daughter play softball!
Thank you for this! I struggle every year with mom guilt during the summer. Trying to keep up with work at home while keeping the kids from sitting in front of the TV all day is so hard. Great to hear how someone else manages it!
I love this! I am so excited for summer and the fun and the possibilities!