How mums can enjoy their free time while kids are in school

There are many reasons why women decide to quit their careers and become stay-at-home mums when their kids are little. The most common reason is that they want to be the primary caregiver of their children and provide a loving and stimulating environment for them at home.
But what happens when their kids start to go to school full time? Many stay-at-home mums are then faced with some new-found free time.
Keep clicking ‘next’ for some great ideas on how stay-at-home mums can reinvent themselves and make the most of the time when their kids are in school.

Focus on personal growth
Was there a class you've always wanted to take but just didn’t have the time for it? Well, now is the perfect time!
Be it getting certified as a yoga instructor, taking a poetry class or going back to law school, you will now have the mind-space and freedom to focus on whatever you choose to do.

Consider being a work-from-home mum
What were your skills when you were working full time? Skills and knowledge earned back then will always be useful to you – especially now.
Websites like Mums at Work and job sites like Singapore.recruit.net list work from home jobs as well. So keep a lookout for something that plays to your strengths.

Get organised
Even if your kids are in school most of the time, your day is bound to get busy again when they get home. You'll have to help them with homework or take them to enrichment classes.
Therefore, you can get the home-front super organised by running your errands, cooking your family’s meals and even doing some budgeting when your kids are in school.

Get plenty of ‘me time’
The most awesome luxury about having your kids at school is probably the peace and quiet you have to do absolutely anything you want to do.
So take a long soak in the tub, read a book or watch that romantic movie you’ve never had the privacy to watch!

Focus on friendships
Rekindle old friendships that had to take a back seat due to your ever busy mummy schedule.
You can even network to find other mums with similar interests as you. Be it a book club or a boot camp, you can find lots of like-minded people on social media sites such as Facebook.

Volunteer
The world always needs more volunteers! If there is a cause that is close to your heart, here’s your chance to make a difference by volunteering your time to help those in need.
Although there are countless volunteering opportunities here in Singapore, here are three to get your started: Sg cares, Volunteering with ONE (Singapore), National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre.

Take on a part-time job
A part-time job gives you the satisfaction of doing something you love and being there for your kids when they get home.
There are plenty of part-time opportunities for teaching skills and aesthetic subjects like music or dancing. Many schools also consider hiring parents for admin jobs and as extra-curricular activity teachers.

Consider a home-based business
Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? If yes, then you could think of making your favourite hobby earn you some money.
Be it making delectable cupcakes, painting beautiful canvases or making stunning pieces of jewellery, many successful and inspiring entrepreneurs are mums who turned their hobbies into successful ventures.
If you want to start your home-based business, you might find this website very helpful.
Written by
Minoli Almeida
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