Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Loooooooooong Weekend Coming Up? 3 Simple Ways to Make it Great!

Hi All and thanks for all the great responses to the 2-Session Turnaround(TM) Coaching. It does feel exciting and empowering to be able to take action and feel some control FAST! If I haven't answered your email personally yet just keep an eye out in your inbox - I'll get to it as soon as I can. In the meantime.....

The last couple of weeks/months many of you have been working on test-taking, summer planning and the usual daily life4kids issues. Certain issues are ongoing during the year and some are situational and seasonal. This weekend, Memorial Day, is the first of many situational, seasonal weekends that will leave you with LOTS of time with your children that you may not be used to having. No need for panic or worry. I'll give you the short version of coaching work I do with parents to prepare. I'll give you the general info and if you have any particular questions just shoot me an email or call and we'll see what we can figure out.

3-Step Plan. That's it. Those three little words that will make it flow.

1. Plan
2. Organize
3. (Be) Flexible
(And one more thing just for you.....see below)

1. Plan for the weekend in advance.
(Ok - no groaning, no saying there's no time....I know all of that.)
Take 1/2 hour. Yes. A whole 1/2 hour. Talk into the recording device on your phone. Send yourself a text. Leave yourself a voicemail. Scribble it on the steam as you get out of the shower if you have to. Believe me if you do it now you save yourself the anxiety, nerve frazzling and all the rest that comes with "What should I do?????? I'm boooooooooooored???" Not to mention the sounds of crashing furniture and china. Or the always favorite sound of fighting in the back yard.

PLAN means planning a couple of different things you might want to do with the kids. A couple of independent activities you might want them to do, or something that you can join forces with another adult on, or other children you might want to join forces with (a trip to the beach or museum).

PLAN more than you think you'll get to do. Better to run out of vacation time then to run out of things to do.

PLAN according to what works for you, your family, your children and your lifestyle.

2. ORGANIZE
(Ok, ok I hear the groans, yelps and heavy sighs. I know you don't have the time. I know you do too much as it is. See my comments re:"Plan" and insert them here.)

ORGANIZE means gathering the materials that you'll need. That could be tickets to whatever, beach clothes, maps to your destinations, food shopping for special baking or cooking activities, art supplies, big garbage bags for y'know....anything and everything, play clothes, phone numbers of the other people involved, emergency numbers, helping hand numbers, videos, games....you get the picture.

Again - I know it sounds like a lot and it feels like a ton of extra work the first time around but it will save you time in the long run and you'll be an old pro by July 4th weekend!

3. (Be) Flexible (Ok - now it's starting to feel like I can hear you all the way here! Flexible???? After all of this? Who's got the energy?)

FLEXIBLE means things do not (always) go according to plan, especially when there are kids (of any age) involved.
If you've planned, you have alternate and extra plans available. Use them.
If you've organized you should have what you need or the contact numbers of people who can help you get them.
Anything else? Go with it. You've got the skills, know-how and ability to do it.

The one more thing? Plan something special for yourself for Tuesday morning. Whether that's a cup of coffee with the paper in the SILENCE, or a run, or anything that makes you feel good. Do it. Plan for it.

You deserve it.

If you have any questions or need some direction call or email at 646.468.0608 or coach at daily life consulting dot com

Enjoy the day your way,
RK
Rebecca Kiki Weingarten M.Sc.Ed, MFA
Daily Life Consulting