The old saying tells us that the best laid plans of mice and men will fail. While a mouse might not really lead a complicated life, it nevertheless seems impossible for us to plan our busy lives around our family and work without some of those unexpected “days off” attributable to illness, weather or teacher training!

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone and everything were flexible, schedules included and you could simply drop your work commitments at a moment’s notice to substitute care for a sickening child?!

1. If you can – plan. It’s true that some of these days are unpredictable, but others may be scheduled ahead of time. Of course nobody knows what the weather is going to do, but snow days only arrive during certain months of the year, whilst inset days are generally planned in advance and with a little bit of work can be sewn into the schedule.

The biggest problem of all revolves around sick days, of course. Prepare and plan as best you can, as you know that these days will surely come! If you are struggling with your planning, consider some professional coaching to help you get back on track.

2. Save up your personal days. Both parents in your household might have to work due to regular commitments, in this case it is important to reserve some personal days for those sickness events. Talk to your human resources department at work and see if your employer will grant you a certain amount of personal days, allowing you to anticipate the scenarios as best you can.

In many cases you will not have any advance notice, so you need to look at this from every perspective and try and be fair all around.

It would definitely be an advantage if you and your partner have a sympathetic employer who could understand your position. It is very important that you do not use personal or sick standby days for any reasons other than they’re intended for.

3. Set up some favours. Come up with a backup plan if you have several children that you are responsible for. See if you can get some additional emergency care-giving help lined up among good neighbours or friends. These favours should be repaid in any way you can think of. The more emergency backup plans you have the more you are going to be able to cope with the issue of a sick child or three.

4. Roll out the vitamins. When you are coping with sick children, remember that you should pay attention to prevention as it is a lot easier than the cure. If you can make sure that your children practise good personal hygiene, eat well, are well rested and in good health, then they’re less likely to come down with those pesky, smaller viruses.

5. Be a good forecaster. Always keep a watchful eye on the forecasts during the winter months. These days they are generally much more reliable and if you can see the threat of a blizzard a couple of days ahead, start making contingency plans accordingly. When a school district is closed, you may well not be able to get to your work either, but if the office is open try and set-up a personal day or plan to work from home if allowed.

You might think you have to wear so many different hats, that you never know which one to put on.

Nowadays, online life coaching can really help you work out which part of your wardrobe to turn to on each occasion! If you’re in need of guidance, coaching for women can help you to manage and not panic!

Amanda Alexander is the Director of Coaching Mums and a widely renowned ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums across the globe who long for more time, balance and fulfilment in their busy lives. Download our free eBook especially for working mums with 5 easy ways to achieve balance.

For many new parents, it can be very difficult to comprehend the change in their lives. The arrival of kids can make a huge difference and really change the way that they looked at the relationship and at the very structure of the partnership.

What may have been a perfectly happy marriage can become, rather quickly, a rocky road. Delicate adjustments are needed by both people here as they try and right the boat and this can apply whether you have had kids before, or not. Maintaining a happy and successful relationship when kids come into the equation really does require us to constantly work at our relationship with our other half.

Whenever doubts arise, worries come to the surface or even anger bubbles up, it is important to take a step back and look at the overall picture. You’ve heard the phrase, “can’t see the wood for the trees”? So much is going on that it is easy for parents to become overwhelmed and not know how to cope. Sometimes this leads to the need for additional jobs and causes parents to become complex role players. This can often be a tricky transition and can lead to each person spending more time focusing on their new “position” than on their opposite partner. To take new parents as an example again, “mum” may become somewhat obsessed with the idea of caring for her newborn and the marriage itself may not have as much of a priority.

Meanwhile, new dads can often feel a bit left out and surplus to requirements! In this situation, you might start to believe the mum is the one to look after the kids and step back. The danger here is that he may distance himself from the partnership, assuming that he’s doing the right thing.

Both parties need to watch each other and look for tell-tale signs. Look for signs of overload, irritability or a short temper. Don’t dismiss any negative vibes such as this, as if left to fester small problems tend to grow large, ugly and hard to crack.

Whenever the kids are not around, sit down and have a very deep and meaningful conversation. Ask yourself whether you are being reasonable and ask the other for their honest input. Remind each other that things have changed now that you have additional family members and this is to be understood, priorities now look different.

You both have to work together as a cohesive team to raise your children in the way you want, and you shouldn’t underestimate how much effort and active input this takes from both of you. Give yourselves a pat on the back and never forget that you two represent the lead team in the family!

Don’t think for a moment that this all has to be about doom and gloom! You do need to prioritise time together, but just make sure that your time represents quality time. Can you remember when you had a nice weekend away together? Plan a really nice, romantic dinner and don’t forget those meaningful, romance filled surprises, from back in the day.

Mums can face a considerable challenge, especially if they are working as well and it’s useful to consult experts to help them manage the juggling act and the myriad of emotions they will face along the journey of motherhood. Thankfully, online life coaching is a marvellous way to pick up some truly professional coaching, and when it comes to coaching for women, it’s the perfect place to turn when life becomes manic!

Amanda Alexander is the Director of Coaching Mums and a widely renowned ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working moms across the globe who long for more time, balance and fulfilment in their busy lives. Download our free eBook especially for working mums with 5 easy ways to achieve balance.

Taking a career break in the middle of a recession is probably not the best idea, but sometimes we are forced to do so, especially when we are expecting a new arrival. These days with household budgets being stretched so thin, the thought of being a full-time mum, while attractive, is not realistic. As soon as we are able and are ready, we need to get back into the job market to find a way of catching back up financially.

Unemployment rates are crazy right now and the labour market can be a very unpleasant proposition. This is not the time to be recalcitrant however, as you need to double your preparation and negotiation skills along with your self-confidence. Sit down and look at your financial position carefully, computing your needs for the months and years ahead of you. While you must always be reasonable, cut out anything that you don’t really need. Be very clear in your own mind about your financial requirements, what you absolutely need as a minimum and what is ideal.

You may well have been perfectly happy with your career before you took the break, but you should now evaluate exactly where you are, whether you want to go back into that arena or explore something completely fresh. Is this the time to consider setting up your own business, for example? Does your financial analysis tell you that you can expect to have fair returns from self-employment, while still making ends meet and if so you may be presented with an exciting and flexible concept for your new life. This may well be the time to consider professional coaching as these are some very significant and potentially very impactful decisions. Specific coaching for women in your position will help you determine the correct path.

It’s important to be positive and never to focus on the negative. Focus on all your strengths, which you should write out on paper and keep on your desk at all times. Focus on your psyche and project yourself well in all your phone calls, e-mails or conversations.

If you are aiming for a particular position, try and consider jobs which are beneath, but fall naturally within the career progression. In this case you may well be over-qualified, but it is a stepping stone closer to where you want to go and if you over-deliver at what you are doing you will become eligible and soon achieve the position that you really want.

Even in this tough hiring environment, those people who really stand out, help and over-perform will still get ahead of the unfortunate majority who do not. Set your mindset for success and you will get there.

Call on all the inner strength that you know you have as you will certainly need it. We cannot help but hear all the negative news about the economy and jobs on a daily basis and might be inclined to believe that our task is monumental, a hill too steep to climb. However, remember to take this journey one step at a time and always be 100% sure about your ability and chances of getting a position before you pick up that phone or type that e-mail. Before you make a phone call, stand up and take a deep breath. A slumping posture, or a sagging mindset will not help. Always smile as you talk on the phone as well.

These days, online life coaching can provide you with the boost you require when you need it, especially in those periods of negativity. You can do it!

Amanda Alexander is the Director of Coaching Mums and a widely renowned ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums across the globe who long for more time, balance and fulfilment in their busy lives. Download our free eBook especially for working mums with 5 easy ways to achieve balance.