The Unexpected Friday That Reminded Me Why I Chose Freelancing
In this blog, I share a real-life Friday curveball - when my toddler unexpectedly stayed home and I had to juggle work and motherhood on the fly. Instead of spiraling, I leaned into the flexibility of freelancing and the systems I’ve built to keep my business organized. With a little screen time (thanks, favorite movie!) and a focused to-do list, I tackled the essentials and turned the rest of the day into bonus mama time. This post is a reminder that having control over your schedule isn’t just a perk, it’s a powerful gift, especially when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Emma Gifford
5/16/20251 min read
This morning didn’t go as planned. I was supposed to be knee deep in work while my toddler enjoyed his usual Friday routine. But life had other ideas; childcare fell through, and I suddenly had a full-of-energy, not-at-all-sick toddler at home with me. You know the kind: bouncing off the walls, narrating his every move, and needing snacks every 12 minutes.
I panicked briefly.
Because honestly, how was I going to get anything done?
But then I took a deep breath and reminded myself: this is exactly why I built my freelance career the way I did.
Thanks to the systems I’ve put in place (hello, project trackers and to-do lists), I knew exactly where I was with all of my clients and tasks. I opened my laptop, cued up my son’s favorite movie, handed him a snack (okay, three), and bought myself an hour of focused work time. I used that window to knock out the most urgent and time-sensitive tasks. And then I closed the laptop.
Just like that, I pivoted from stressed-out freelancer to full-time mama for the rest of the day.
I didn’t need to email a boss.
I didn’t need to use PTO.
I didn’t feel guilty or behind.
I didn’t feel like the day was “ruined.”
Instead, I felt grateful.
Grateful that I’ve built a business that bends when life throws curveballs.
Grateful that my work and my motherhood don’t have to constantly compete.
Grateful that an unexpected day home with my son can feel like a gift, not an obstacle.
That’s the beauty of having control over your schedule.
That’s the freedom freelancing has given me.
So today, we’re doing extra cuddles, spontaneous snack breaks, and maybe even a second movie, because I earned it, and because he deserves it.
And I’ll get back to work Monday… or after naptime. We’ll see.