Spring Break No Vacation for Working Moms?

Just last week, I posted an article about how you can make your own spring break -without having to pack, get on a plane and wiggle your toes in the sand. I was rnreminded of these more relaxing thoughts as I struggled to coordinate the spring break of my own kids over the past couple of days. Then I read an article which highlights (again) the challenges for busy professional women who have kids. Kids who get a spring break and still need some version of parental oversight lest the house end up in shambles or worse. The challenges are different depending on a variety of factors including...

• How old the kids are
• Whether you have commercial daycare available or are relying on a network of sitters and family
• How flexible your work arrangements and meetings are
• Whether spring break is almost like a company holiday or Christmas break (this is true of my former Fortune 100 company employer)

The right combination of these factors can make spring break easy to manage - or a rnstress meltdown in the making. The main key is to plan for it which can be easier said than done. Yet, there are ways to make the most of the break without it breaking you. Here are some quick ideas to help:

• Can you take time off? This may take the most planning but using this as family vacation time (whether you travel with the crowds or not) is a great way to take advantage of a school break.
• What are the child care options? Many programs, ongoing or just for days that school are not in session, are often available on an as-needed basis. In our area, these exist for all non-school days, whether because of snow, conferences or holidays.
• Can you have a flexible schedule - even if just for this week? Try not to schedule important meetings or deadlines to give yourself plenty of flexibility in case child care arrangements don't work out.
• Have your kids work with you on the schedule. This is really for the older kids, but any age can participate. They have a stake in making sure everything runs smoothly and keeping your stress level down. Even if their ideas aren't practical, their involvement can help them understand and buy into what needs to happen.

Not every option will work for every professional woman or family, of course. Still, challenging yourself to come up with a plan (and then a couple of back-up options) can help you get through the week much more easily. Then you can take that into next year for an even smoother break. Now, it's your turn! How do you manage spring break for your kids? What suggestions do you have for other busy professional moms?