How I'm Working From Home With Kids This Summer
Summer Is Here... Now What?
Hey, it's Jessie!!
Preschool just ended for my three-and-a-half-year-old, my babysitter is officially on summer vacation, and summer camp doesn't start for a few more weeks. Which means for the next little while, it's just me and the boys.
As a work-from-home mom, this season always feels a little strange. School is out, routines change overnight, and suddenly the days feel much longer. I still have a business to run and projects I want to work on, but I also know these summers with little kids won't last forever.
One of the biggest reasons I started pursuing a slower life was because I realized not every season needs to be optimized. This summer is one of those seasons. I'm going into it with a very different mindset than I would have a few years ago. Instead of trying to squeeze every ounce of productivity out of my day, I'm focusing on being present, lowering my expectations, and enjoying this season for what it is.
And just as a reminder, I'm primarily a full-time mom who works part-time hours. I'm not trying to fit eight hours of work into my day. My goal is simply to keep a little income coming in while creating a fun summer for my boys!
If you're also trying to balance work and kids this summer, here's what our days will probably look like.
I'm Adjusting My Expectations
For almost four years now, I've tried to fit as much work as possible into as little time as possible.
The problem is that eventually my brain started moving faster than my hands could keep up. I constantly felt behind. There was always one more email to answer, one more thing to market, one more project to finish.
It was exhausting.
Fortunately, my bookkeeping business is in a very different place than it was when I first started. We have stable clients, recurring income, and while I always appreciate new opportunities, I'm no longer in a season where I need to spend every spare minute growing.
The reality is that most of my busiest work happens at the beginning of the month when I'm closing out client books. Outside of that, there are very few true emergencies in my business.
So this summer, I'm choosing to adjust.
The kids won't be little forever. Summer won't last forever. This is simply one season among many, and instead of fighting it, I'm trying to embrace it.
We Start the Day Outside Before Florida Turns Into a Sauna
My kids have always been early risers, so after breakfast, getting dressed, and getting everyone ready for the day, the first thing we do is head outside… If you live in South Florida, you already know why!
Without a pool in our backyard, I've learned that we need to take advantage of the cooler morning hours while we can. Lately, I've been prioritizing movement for both myself and the kids. Running has become a surprisingly important part of my life recently. As a former athlete, I've always exercised, but running feels different these days. It's become less about performance and more about stress relief.
So I'll load up the double stroller, grab the boys' bikes, pack a few snacks, and head out.
Some days we run. Some days we bike. Some days we walk.
The destination is usually a nearby park where the boys can burn off energy while I get some movement in myself.
I've noticed that when we start the day outside, everything else tends to go smoother. The kids are happier. I'm happier. Everyone is a little more relaxed.
More importantly, it gives me a chance to be present with them. We push them on the swings, race around the playground, explore the trails, and simply enjoy being outside together before the heat forces us indoors.
Lunch and Quiet Time Are My Work Hours
By the time we're done outside, we're usually ready to escape the Florida heat.
We'll head home for lunch, which most days looks like something simple and kid-friendly. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a staple around here.
While the boys eat, I'll often turn on a show and sneak in a little work. After lunch, my youngest goes down for a nap and my oldest gets some quiet time with a movie. If you have multiple children who still nap, my biggest piece of advice is to do everything in your power to align those nap schedules. Those overlapping naps are absolute gold, but again, don’t sress over it!
My oldest doesn't nap much anymore, but I still remember how magical those double-nap afternoons were.
These days, I'm usually aiming for one to two focused hours of work. That's enough to keep things moving while still allowing me to enjoy the summer with my boys.
Everything beyond that feels like extra credit.
Why I'm Not Trying to Entertain My Kids All Day
One thing I've learned as a mom is that kids don't need constant entertainment. Some of our best afternoons happen when we're doing ordinary things together. We'll grab the chalk and head outside. My oldest loves finding ideas on Pinterest and asking me to draw them for him. Most of the time it's games or characters, and while I'm certainly not an artist, it's become one of my favorite ways to spend time with him. Check out some of our projects below!
We're also spending a lot of time in the yard.
My son helps water flowers, pull weeds, spread mulch, and check on our zinnias. He's incredibly proud of the progress we've made, and honestly, so am I. The garden has become one of those unexpected projects that's teaching both of us patience!
These are zinnia’s just starting to sprout!
Check out our growth so far after one week! Thanks for the help of our neighbors keeping a good watering schedule on the side-yards!
On days when I don't run in the morning, I'll usually try to squeeze in a quick workout while he's nearby playing with his toy gym equipment. And yes, I mean quick. Most days we're talking about fifteen minutes.
A few years ago, I probably would have convinced myself that fifteen minutes wasn't enough to matter. As a former athlete, I was always used to longer workouts, training schedules, and pushing myself hard. Motherhood has forced me to rethink a lot of that.
One person who has really helped shape that mindset is my friend Jessica over at Iron & Grace.
Jessica focuses on nutrition and fitness for moms, and as a mom herself, she understands that most of us aren't waking up at 5 a.m. for a two-hour workout and meal prep session. She's helped remind me that taking care of yourself doesn't have to be all or nothing (hard to hear that as an ex-athlete from your ex-teammate!). Sometimes it looks like a run with a double stroller. Sometimes it looks like fifteen minutes in the garage while your child copies your exercises beside you as you listen to Spidey and Friends.
And sometimes it looks like a family walk after dinner.
I'm sure I'll share more about my own fitness journey in a future post because it's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. But for now, I'm simply trying to prioritize movement again in a way that feels realistic for this season of life.
Because in this season, consistency matters a whole lot more than perfection.
My Backup Plan for Rainy Days
Of course, this is Florida… Not every day is sunshine and chalk art. Some days it's pouring rain. Some days it's simply too hot. Some days I'm exhausted and need a change of scenery. That's when we head to The Motherhood Village.
It's become one of my favorite local resources because the boys get a safe place to play while I can enjoy a coffee, answer a few emails, read a book, or simply sit down for a minute… More than anything, it's become a community!
A hot pistachio latte is the move to make here!
Nothing better than getting a few extra minutes of work done, with the kids happy and playing, and drinking a warm cup of coffee in peace.
The owner, Nicole, has created such an incredible space for moms and young children. Between the play spaces, camps, classes, events, and coffee, it's one of those places that genuinely makes motherhood feel a little less isolating.
As moms, I think we need more places where we're allowed to exist without pressure, and The Motherhood Village has become that place for us.
If you're local, tell Nicole that Jessie (the bookkeeper) sent you. They have a referral program where you can get discounts, and I always love supporting the businesses that support local moms!
Evening Family Time
Eventually my youngest wakes up, everyone migrates back outside, and we settle into whatever the evening brings.
Sometimes that's the blow-up pool in the backyard. Sometimes it's neighborhood kids running around together. Sometimes it's painting outside, riding bikes, or taking a family walk after dinner.
We're fortunate enough to live in the same neighborhood as my in-laws, so they often stop by as well. The boys absolutely love having their grandparents close by, and I don't take that for granted.
Nothing fancy. Just ordinary summer evenings. The kind I know I'll miss someday.
My Favorite Part of the Day
Once the kids are asleep, the dishes are done, and the house is finally quiet, I get a little bit of time to myself.
Sometimes that looks like a long shower with nobody knocking on the door. Sometimes it means sitting in the rocking chair that once held both of my babies while reading a book by the window. Sometimes I simply go to bed early.
Not every evening needs to be productive. Sometimes rest is productive enough.
Ask Me Again in August
Will this plan work perfectly? Probably not.
Kids are unpredictable. Weather changes. Work deadlines pop up. Regressions happen.
Your terrible twos somehow become threenagers, and your threenagers somehow become four-year-olds with even bigger opinions. But this is the plan.
And if you're trying to work from home with kids this summer too, maybe the goal isn't getting everything done.
Maybe the goal is simply enjoying the season while it lasts.