International Women’s Day
#BalanceforBetter
8th March 2019
Like many working Mums, I returned to work after a short period of maternity leave when my eldest two children were 5 months old respectively. There then ensued a number of years of madness. Our lives were blurred by a flurry of weaning on to the bottle, settling in with Carers and Grandparents, bag packing, car seat swapping and shelling out the majority of our earnings on childcare. On top of that was the guilt. I felt guilty about leaving my children in the care of other people. I felt guilty for not meeting my own aspirations and expectations at work. We did this for four years and then enough was enough! I left and set up my own business.
I now run a successful legal practice from home. I have always taken my children to school and collected them, arranged play-dates, helped with homework and dealt with the tears and frustrations of bullying and friendship issues. I gave up a partnership for all of that and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Our youngest child became my little assistant from 12 weeks. I was the traveling lawyer with baby in tow. He would sit in his rocking chair at the head of the table whilst I conducted meetings with clients. I have dealt with phone calls and emails whilst walking our dog, making dinner, walking around Museums, sitting in soft play areas and going on bike rides with my children. I always get a great job done, on time, for my clients but I work around my children and their needs. My clients respect me all the more for this and value the professional service that I deliver.
Being a working Mum is really hard. Whichever way you chose to do it, you are setting a fantastic example for your children and doing the very best that you can.
