susan rose United States Local time: 11:29 Member (2011) German to English
Jul 30, 2011
what have people with families/kids/households found works best for juggling translating work/business/family?
I find it so hard to keep one from constantly interrupting the other, ending up in too much piecemeal. I'd be very welcome for ideas and suggestions that those in the community with families at home have found work. thanks!
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Cécile Sellier France Local time: 20:29 Member (2010) English to French
Good point!
Jul 30, 2011
Hi there,
That's an interesting question indeed and I'm also curious to read how other translators manage to fit it all in one day
At the moment it's quite easy for me as my boyfriend has to live half in the UK and half in France (with me) - therefore I'm alone half the time and can work a lot! But I'm moving to the UK in a few months' time to live with him and I'm wondering how I'm going to organize my time... My boyfriend doesn't work so he has a lot of free time and I'm worried I'll want to spend all of it with him!
Cécile
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Phil Hand China Local time: 02:29 Member (2011) Chinese to English
A door with a lock and a cooperative spouse
Jul 31, 2011
For work sometimes I just have to lock the door. Our 4 year old is a great kid, but at that age even the best of intentions can be overwhelmed by excitement, and sometimes he just has to show Daddy his new toy. Equally important, my wife has to actively find things for him to do, rather than just forbid him from coming to bother me.
On the other side, I have to promise to stop work at 5.30 or 6.00, and if there are any last emails to write or bits to finish, they are done after 9.00, when the rugrats are safely in bed. But the battle then is to get me to go to bed at a reasonable hour - Ann has made it her mission to get me and her reasonably synchronised in terms of our sleeping/waking times, and she's very right to do so.
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Mats Wiman Sweden Local time: 20:29 Member (2000) German to Swedish + ...
MODERATOR
It's a matter of learning
Jul 31, 2011
One must learn - and one can learn- to improve one's ability to be disturbed.
You can learn to appreciate an interruption.
One can be bored by translating and an interruption can therefore be welcome
- especially if the'disturber' is your child.
I used to create voluntary interruptions by being active in the KudoZ arena.
Remember: Interruptions/pauses/breaks can be very productive.
Very often we used to tell our children where our money came from, so that when we did not want to be interrrupted, they gradually accepted our "Not now!!"
Mats
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susan rose United States Local time: 11:29 Member (2011) German to English
TOPIC STARTER
Appreciate interruptions
Jul 31, 2011
Mats Wiman wrote:
You can learn to appreciate an interruption.
I like this, Mats. I often think that HOW we view things colors our reactions to them. So, maybe if I make an effort to see the positive in interruptions, I will feel less stressed by them. Thank you for this idea!
@ Phil: I agree, everyone needs a cooperative spouse to make free-lancing/self-employment work if you have family. Partners can do a lot to filter demands during certain work periods.
For me, I think mental discipline plays an important role. I just have trouble bracketing out other demands (phone calls, menus, laundry, pets, play dates...) when I'm at my desk.
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The Misha United States Local time: 14:29 Russian to English + ...
Get yourself some ear plugs - and persevere!
Aug 1, 2011
That's what I do. I am a stay at home dad with two pre-teens that go to different schools and a spouse who works a regular full-time job and is hardly ever home, especially when it's time to do something around the house. We live in a NYC apartment that is at least one room short, so my work desk is in the hottest (in summer) nook in the living room, across the room from the TV that's blaring full blast some 15 hours a day. I shop, cook, clean, haul the kids around and kick their butts whenever that is required. Did I mention I also pay all the bills in the house?
I am not seeking sympathy (gosh, no!) or trying to put myself out as a modern day urban hero (yuck!). There was this old joke about a guy in a messy household who came to the local sage for advice. Well, the guy told him to buy a cat, and a dog, and a cow, and god knows what else , that's not important. When the poor sob came running back, crying foul, the wise old man told him to get rid of the extras - and the guy felt better immediately. The moral of it all is that everything is relative. If your life arrangements are better than mine, then maybe you'll feel better reading about my daily lot. If it's the other way around - let me know, and for the same reason. What's fair is fair.
When the going gets tough, plug your ears up - and keep going. That's what I do. Most of us make our choices early enough in life and then live with the consequences - if we have the guts to stick around, that is. Life is hard - but who said it was going to be easy?
Cheers and good luck to you. Life is also beautiful.
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susan rose United States Local time: 11:29 Member (2011) German to English
TOPIC STARTER
lol :-)
Aug 1, 2011
thank you Misha! you painted quite a portrait of your environment!
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