Written by Megan Ryan
Summer break: It’s a time for relaxation—
“Mom, she’s sitting on my arm!”
And a season for fun—
“It’s time to go to camp!”
And a chance to try new—
“What’s for lunch?”
If any of these interruptions I’ve experienced sounds familiar, you might be able to understand the challenges of continuing to do editing work from home while caring for children on summer break.
You’ll be disappointed if you’re hoping for tips on how to do this well. I have not gotten it all figured out yet, but I know being in that position can feel lonely (despite not getting to be alone!), so I hope there is a bit of relief in relating.
Some of you with children at home may be able to take summers off, while others may have to keep up a full-time schedule year-round. I fall somewhere in the middle. I try to keep my usually part-time workload a bit lighter in the summer. I want to spend extra time with my kids and enjoy the beautiful Michigan weather without losing my professional momentum.
Here are three things that often make the working part of the equation difficult:
Interruptions
I do not have an office in our home. My desk is in the family room, which has no doors to close to keep out the noise or interruptions. It is easier to focus now that my kids are old enough to not need constant attention, but any time others are in the house, distractions are bound to come.
Extra activities
The weeks fill up quickly with day camps, seeing friends, and going outside to enjoy nature. Despite planning out the family’s main commitments for the summer during the winter, the days always feel more packed when I’m living (and driving) them out.
Changing schedule
The lack of consistent routine also makes the adjustment to summer tough for me. The rhythms of my kids’ plans and activities are not the same day to day or week to week, which is harder to settle into. I like to know what to expect and am still growing in being able to go with the flow.
Each summer, it feels like I am relearning how to work through the long break. Some days I feel like my editing projects have been a bit neglected, and some days I am not sure I was there for my kids as much as they needed. But I can look back at how God has been faithful in previous years, and I trust that when I ask, He will guide me to make time for my family and my career, no matter the season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV).
Megan Ryan provides copyediting and proofreading to help authors feel confident about sharing their writing with the world. She has copyedited and/or proofread more than 140 books for self-publishing authors and hybrid publishers.
She enjoys living in Michigan with her husband and three children. You can contact her at mryanediting@gmail.com or find more information at https://mryanediting.wixsite.com/mryanediting.