Copyright 2011 Shannon L. Buck: How to Live the Freelance Life

                                                     Family Time

Family time is important but, when building a business, you can’t always carve out enough time to spend with everyone who deserves it. When your children want to connect, and you are unable to stop what you are doing, invite them to help you out. Allow them to talk about whatever they want, and let them know that you appreciate the time you are spending together. For instance, your children can help with:

• Editing
• Photocopying and printing
• Filing
• Organizing
• Office cleanup tasks

Be sure that, when you are not working, there are things that you are doing along with your family, such as:

• Making ‘dates’ with each member of your family, as well as with your family as a whole.
• A family chore afternoon each week.
• Running errands together.
• A family game night.
• A movie night.
• Family walks after dinner.
• Preparing meals together.

When young children are in your care, you might have a table set up for them in your work area. Provide them with pencils, paper, coloring books and other items that will allow them something to do while you work on necessary tasks. Conversely, a carpeted floor may be used. You might have a tote filled with items for them to use just while you are all in the office.

My suggestion is to get used to low-volume talk, even if that means you have to work on tasks that need less concentration while the children are there. Your children will feel closer to you just by being in the same area, and they will have fun pretending to ‘work’ along side you.

Quick Writing Tip

Family tales are great memories, that are fun to write about.

5 Writing Prompts

1. Article Idea: A dream family vacation.
2. Article Idea: Activities for preschool age children.
3. Blog Idea: Family life.
4. Book Idea: Teen Entrepreneurs
5. Book Idea: Child Entrepreneurs

Quote

The family is a haven in a heartless world. 

~Attributed to Christopher Lasch~

Challenge

Get your family together. Go to the calendar and schedule a family night each week.

Special Report

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

In this Special Report, you will see how it is possible for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help. Teens can be a big help with things like:

* Their younger siblings.
* Keeping up the house.
* Business tasks.

Special Report

A Freelancer’s Helper

In this special report, A Freelancer’s Helper, I will show you the value of having people to help you with every day tasks while you work. Each person will have different needs, and this report will help you to decide what help would be best for your circumstances.