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I’m a Parent and a Freelancer. Here’s What My Day Looks Like.
By Sandy
There aren’t too many titles that spur images of someone sitting around in their pajamas, binging Netflix (and maybe a pint of ice cream) quite like all of the titles I hold:
Freelance Writer.
Work-From-Home Mom.
Homeschooler.
So I try to be understanding when people marvel at my ability to a) put proper clothing on before leaving the house, and b) actually be a productive member of society.
And while it’s true that casual clothing does have a big role in my day (everyday is legging & messy bun day!), the life of a freelancer/parent is still a full one… and fulfillment!
Beyond the stereotypes, there’s also a lot of curiosity, because for every question I get about what I actually do (or if I do anything at all), I also get questions from those who want to know what I do and how I do it because they would love to do it too.
Those are the people this article is for. Because I know you’re out there.
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So I want to tell you that if this is something you want, you can absolutely do it and have a very fulfilling and challenging career while also making more time for just being… rather than rushing through each day.
Working from home and freelancing specifically is much different than how we’ve previously defined our roles as parents and as financial earners.
First, freelancers don’t rely on anyone else to tell us what to do, when to do it, how to do it, or where to do it from.
That’s all up to me.
And that’s appealing.
Especially for a parent.
There’s no more commute, no more daycare/school/work/soccer shuffle, no more after-work rush to finish the homework, get dinner on the table, the bath, the bed, the rush… the craving for just one moment to sit down and breathe.
And no more pit in your stomach when you have to call the boss to tell them you need yet another day off for a sick kid, or a snow day…
That stuff? It’s hard.
And if you’re doing it right now, props to you. I couldn’t. It broke me.
I knew that the pace I was living and the way I was spending my time was just not the way I wanted to live my life.
I craved something slower and more connected… while still allowing me to pursue a challenging and rewarding career (I’m much more career oriented than domestically talented).
So if you want to take a peek into the life of a freelance-parent, here’s what it’s like (for me).
But first…
What you should know is that, as a freelancer, your schedule is completely up to you. So even though I’m going to tell you what I do all day (and don’t do), it’s important to realize that this can and does look different for everyone.
For example, I homeschool my son. A lot of people wouldn’t choose to do that. But, I’m allotted that freedom that I wouldn’t otherwise have if I worked a traditional 9-5. You might have something else that you would love to do with your days that you currently aren’t finding time for. Or, maybe you have young kids at home that you’d like to focus on. It’s all up to you!
Most of my peers (who also work remotely as freelancers/contract workers) have very different days than I do, depending on what lifestyle they’ve chosen.
I tend to break my day into chunks. Some for working, some for parenting (much like parents with traditional jobs). The only difference is that my blocks are much smaller and don’t happen all at once.
My blocks typically look like this:
Typically, the day starts at about 6 AM. I like to get up and work a little before my son gets up. This allows me to get about 1-2 hours in before it’s time to switch into mom-mode.
Depending on the morning, this early me-time looks different from day to day. Sometimes this is when I put together proposals or catch up on emails. Other times, I dive right into client work and knock out a project before the day starts.
From 8-11 AM, I’m fully on mom-duty. My son and I do the majority of his homeschool work (at least the subjects that he needs me for). One of the things that I love about freelancing is that my schedule is absolutely my own call. If I don’t want to meet with clients from 8-11AM, I don’t.
And what I do with that time is all up to me.
During the summer, I might end up at the gym or the park. During the school year, I choose to homeschool, so that’s what takes up that block.
Some days, we take field trips or meet up with friends. But most days, we do our lessons at the kitchen table. It’s relaxed, fun, and there’s no morning-rush.
From about 11AM-12PM, I make sure I’ve responded to all client and prospective client communication from the morning. I also take this time to do any admin work. This includes invoices, proposals, or social media posts.
Hopefully, I can also grab a snack around now.
From 12-1PM, we finish up our last school subject. Then, it’s time for me to start “really” working for the day.
Clients book me out about 1 week in advance (typically), so I know exactly what needs to get done well before 1PM strikes. My day is planned and I’m ready to rock as soon as my son starts his silent reading time. 🙂
That typically takes me to about dinner time.
Because there was no commute, no homework rush, no after-school craziness, things are pretty laid back and I can focus on writing for most of the afternoon. My son typically plays with friends at this time. We may even pack up and go to the park or to a meetup and I’ll just bring my laptop with me and work while he does his thing with his friends or his homeschool group.
By the time dinner comes, I’ve typically had about 4-6 hours of work. Some days, this is enough and I call it a day.
On other days, I’ll do something to push my business forward after dinner (like write this post).
A lot of days though, I’m pretty worn out by now, so I take it easy and do the family thing. We watch a movie, go to the pool, whatever.
I’m lucky enough to have my parents nearby who watch my son twice a week, which always gives me an extra 10-12 hours each week for additional work if I want it.
So what’s it like being a freelance-parent? It’s pretty cool.
I love the freedom it provides, the challenges of creating something from nothing, or holding myself to the highest standards…
But mostly, I like designing my own day and my own destiny. 🙂
