Top tips from Nabs parents for managing the summer holiday juggle
Opinion
Clubs, activities, days out… the summer holidays — beloved by kids, dreaded by their grown-ups — are upon us. Parents at Nabs share their thoughts for this notorious juggle.
Steve Rowe, lead senior support advisor
A big challenge is covering the sheer amount of time off between two working parents.
Prep begins months before summer, working out who’s covering what weeks of July and August. We’ve learned that we need a blend: some days have plans, when we get up and out of the house with an activity; but some days to mooch and go with the flow.
On the mooch days, embark on some toy rotation. Dig out the games, puzzles and crafts that haven’t seen the light of day for months.
A mindful motto I keep in, er, mind: “Be where your feet are.” So I enjoy the time and be in the moment, whatever we’re doing.
Lorraine Jennings-Creed, director of wellbeing services and culture change
The hardest thing about summer for me is feeling like I’m not a good enough parent or colleague, constantly flitting between roles and feeling like I’m not doing my best in either. I guess it’s because I set such unrealistic expectations for myself.
Ironically, the week my daughter goes back to school is often the hardest. While I sometimes crave the structure school brings, that transition stirs unexpected emotions. You’ve finally found a rhythm and now it’s changing again, and maybe you’ve started to really enjoy this time. Transitions ripple through the whole household; you can all feel it.
During summer, I try to let go of perfection. As parents and carers, we’re so used to blitzing through tasks, but summer forces a change of pace. I remind myself I don’t have to “fix” everything immediately; some things can wait and some in turn then just get sorted.
At work, I ask: what really needs to be delivered by September and is that realistic? It doesn’t have to be all me (and it’s often not). I try to keep perspective and remember this is just a season. Real self-talk. So I delete the work apps when I’m off and stay focused.
Slowing down helps me savour the small joys — things I would have missed. And it means I come back a better colleague with fresh perspectives and new ideas.
Katrina Urban, head of learning and development
We spend so much time planning childcare, booking activities, running from one club to another, all while keeping work on track, that we rarely gift ourselves time: me time.
If clubs and activities are close to home, walk! Whether it’s five minutes or 20 minutes, take that solo walk home after drop-off to enjoy the silence or listen to that podcast you keep forgetting about.
I squeeze in the gym when I can. Early morning on holiday, lunch breaks when working from home or evenings.
Get a brunch or dinner in with your friends — with no kids! Be you, not Mum, for a few hours.
Louise Scodie, host, Nabs Podcast; senior PR manager
Get in there first when it comes to hosting playdates. This is a brilliantly simple tip I learned from working parent author Tobi Asare. Offer to have your kid’s classmates over when you can accommodate and watch the return invitations come rolling in.
Holiday camp hours are often shorter than the working day, making office days more challenging than usual. My tip here is to: a) team up with other class parents to send your kids to the same camp, so you can b) share the load with drop-offs and pick-ups.
Ask on your local WhatsApp groups for trusted recommendations of local teens who can be with your child while you work at home for a relatively low cost. I have a few on rotation who are very happy to sit and make necklaces with my daughter. I suspect she finds their company more interesting than mine!
Michaella Warren, commercial and operations executive
I’ll try to keep one or two anchor routines during the term-time juggle to give my little turbo Tom a sense of consistency, even when the schedule shifts.
Flexibility is crucial, with both work and parenting expectations. I booked a two-week summer camp early in the year, knowing I can focus on work and Tom will have heaps of fun.
And when all else fails, screen time isn’t the enemy; it’s a tool. Most importantly, I will try to release the guilt. Don’t strive for perfection — strive for balance and sanity.