Doing It For The Kids

Freelance friction. When working evenings and weekends eats into 'family time'

Episode Summary

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a CORKER of a question from 'Detective Grace Ace' aka Anonymous. She says: “Looking for a pep talk please! I have just changed from a fixed hours contract (22 hours/week) to setting up on my own in a different field. My husband and I have two preschool children and I have always been responsible for childcare. They are in playschool four days a week so I have 20 hours a week of regular work hours. With two kiddos, inevitable illness, appointments and holidays, it always falls to me to reduce my hours to pick up the slack. When I was working fixed hours and needed to make up time in the evenings or at weekends it was fine. But now I can set my own hours, my husband asks me not to work evenings or weekends as it eats into family time. All the while wondering when I will start earning money... I have tried explaining what the childcare implications would be if I worked a 9-5. Feeling pretty squeezed, but this business is something I want very much and makes me very happy. Just need to figure out a way to get my family more on board! Guessing this sounds familiar to some of you?”

Episode Notes

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a CORKER of a question from 'Detective Grace Ace' aka Anonymous. She says:

“Looking for a pep talk please!

I have just changed from a fixed hours contract (22 hours/week) to setting up on my own in a different field. My husband and I have two preschool children and I have always been responsible for childcare.

They are in playschool four days a week so I have 20 hours a week of regular work hours. With two kiddos, inevitable illness, appointments and holidays, it always falls to me to reduce my hours to pick up the slack.

When I was working fixed hours and needed to make up time in the evenings or at weekends it was fine. But now I can set my own hours, my husband asks me not to work evenings or weekends as it eats into family time. All the while wondering when I will start earning money...

I have tried explaining what the childcare implications would be if I worked a 9-5.

Feeling pretty squeezed, but this business is something I want very much and makes me very happy. Just need to figure out a way to get my family more on board!

Guessing this sounds familiar to some of you?”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

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Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

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