I have been asked to write this particular blog by the fabulous team at
MummyJobs.co.uk (and DaddyJobs.co.uk) – ‘Getting Mums (and Dads) Back In to
Business.' www.mummyjobs.co.uk www.daddyjobs.co.uk
Now before my current employer reads this and panics – don’t worry, I’m
not on the hunt for jobs…and there’s many a reason for that which I shall
explain later on.
So what’s my ‘back (to work) story’?
I went to back to work when my daughter was seven months old – to some that was
too early but:
1) I was in the very fortunate position to be going back to a job I loved and
missed
My daughter took to nursery like a duck to water and so thankfully I never had
that worry, having socialised her massively in preperation from being a few
days old – I knew from early on that I wouldn’t be taking any longer off.
Going back to work was the classic ‘going back to work for a rest’ scenario. I
absolutely loved my time on maternity leave, it was so precious and memorable
but I was ready to use my brain again and to have more diverse conversations! As
soon as I went back, I realised how much I enjoyed my own company too – driving
in with the radio on, grabbing my morning coffee, having two arms to do
everything…!
I don’t work on the doorstep of home – on a normal day, it takes 40 minutes to
drive into work but get the traffic wrong and it can be a two hour journey –
nicht gut! Add that to the still occasional disturbed night’s sleep that a one
year old can bring and it can be a killer. As selfish as it sounds, I dread her
catching another cold or teething again – my priority is of course whether she
is ok(!) but I can’t lie that I don’t then wonder how much sleep I’ll lose and
dread my alarm going off!
I am constantly asked why I do it, why put myself through that when I could
maybe find a job closer to my doorstep?
I fought to do what I do (again) today. I say ‘again’ as my first jobs, having
always wanted to work in TV and Media were for the BBC and Granada as well as
having my own column in my local paper. I also did random jobs like
rollerblading around the country for the new Diet Pepsi roadshow – as you do. Once
I grew up a bit and moved out with my now hubbie, it was time to get a
mortgage. Working as a freelancer didn’t have the same appeal by this point and,
both being freelancers at the time, mortgage companies wouldn’t touch us with a
barge pole. It was time to get real and look for something more ‘sensible.’
I ended up working in ‘sensible’ jobs for eight years and had by then worked
my way up, travelled all over the world in my role(s), and had a company car. But
I was bored. Oh so very bored. Whilst I threw myself into my work and still gave
it my all (I have never quite known how to press the ‘slow down’ button!), it
just wasn’t for me. I missed creativity and the art of having ideas. I missed
writing and production and words. Pretentious and arty farty as that sounds, I
can’t deny it!
I decided to have a look at what was out there in the media industry but
panicked that I had now been out of it for too long to be taken seriously any
more. Thankfully I was invited in to see a fabulous TV and video production
company, then based at MediaCityUK, with bases there and in China and the rest,
as they say, is history.
That was now four and a half years ago and I haven’t looked back once. I can
honestly say that my job is my passion, my hobby. I love the work and I love
the people. I am surrounded by people on the same level and no longer have ‘the
itch.’ It is a fantastic, and I appreciate enviable, position to be in, but my
God, have I worked hard for it and to be back here.
Life is definitely tougher with a child in the mix too. The nights I get home
at 7pm, I have to practically get her straight to bed or ring my husband and
ask that he starts her routine as I’m stuck in traffic. I dislike those nights,
I have to say, but I do manage to strike a balance, and I hope one day she
agrees that I did that.
We also work on a huge, well known TV show which can mean that we are filming
into the very early hours, resulting in getting into bed any time between 12am –
5am – these are of course days when I don’t see that little smile at all albeit
my husband always sends me a little picture of her all tucked up in her PJs
which helps (me at least).
The saying goes, “Work in a job you love and you’ll never work another day
in your life” and that is SO true. If I didn’t feel this, I’m not sure that I
would feel balance was being restored. The guilt does kick in on occasion but
then I know we’ll get that time back and I’ll more than make up for it.
Monday and Thursday, when I work full days, I am lucky enough to have my mother
in law and parents look after her respectively. Tuesday and Wednesday she is in
nursery 8am-6pm – my husband takes her and I pick her up, meaning I leave work
at 4pm to avoid the traffic. Fridays I don’t work and we have a lovely, quality
mummy and daughter day. That day is so important to me.
Thankfully, our director understands that it is results that are important, not
time-serving. I wish for so many people that their companies understood this
too. It works both ways. I have always wanted to give my all when it comes to
my work but it makes you want to do that more so when you are given the respect
and freedom from the top to say what is effectively, “You’re doing a good job,
it doesn’t matter about the exact hours you do it in.” It is all about give and
take and I respect that so much. Equally, I understand that on occasion, I will
have to work a longer Tuesday or Wednesday or go in on a Friday but because the
respect and the trust is given, I want to repay it, and everyone is happy.
I asked a male friend who is MD at his company recently and whom has two young
children, also travelling a lot with work, “How do you maintain the balance?”
He stated that he picks and chooses the trips he takes and makes sure he never
works weekends. Choice is what gives us the balance, and the balance is what
keeps us all sane, let’s face it!
Yes, I’m absolutely shattered, yes I struggle to get out of bed some
mornings and yes, some nights I go straight to bed once we’ve put her down. But
to me it is all worth it. The balancing act for me isn’t just about keeping my
daughter happy but keeping myself happy too – happy mum, happy baby, I say – I do
so by making sure that every extra hour I spend working or travelling is put
back into her in the evenings, on Fridays and at the weekend – seieng that
little smile light up when we’re playing, doing something simple like reading a
book or are on the little train at the park is all I need to know that all’s
good in our little world.
Equally, I want her to know and to learn that the reason we are able to have
such lovely times (and granted, the best things in life are indeed free!) are because
mummy and daddy work so hard. Does money make us happy? In my opinion no (it certainly
helps!), but no, money gives us choices
and I feel it is the luxury of choice that contents us.
Had I not have been in such a great flexible position at work, I would
indeed be running for the hills. I have been miserable in some of my more ‘sensible’,
‘real’ jobs and that is certainly not something I want to bring home to my
daughter. I hope she too can one day find something she loves to do and pursues
it.
Another fabulous friend who had previously been a teacher and had commuted
every day, upon having her second child said enough’s enough and now runs her
own children’s party business, marks exams and papers, private tutors and runs
children’s music, football classes, you name it – I am so ridiculously proud of
her – things were so happy at home that she then got pregnant with her third
child (!)
Life is tough and we all have to get by which ever ways suits. There is no
right and wrong. Let’s face it, every person you look at who seems to have it
all covered is winging it just like the rest of us! Hats off to each and every
ruddy one of us!
I went to back to work when my daughter was seven months old – to some that was too early but:
1) I was in the very fortunate position to be going back to a job I loved and missed
My daughter took to nursery like a duck to water and so thankfully I never had that worry, having socialised her massively in preperation from being a few days old – I knew from early on that I wouldn’t be taking any longer off.
Going back to work was the classic ‘going back to work for a rest’ scenario. I absolutely loved my time on maternity leave, it was so precious and memorable but I was ready to use my brain again and to have more diverse conversations! As soon as I went back, I realised how much I enjoyed my own company too – driving in with the radio on, grabbing my morning coffee, having two arms to do everything…!
I don’t work on the doorstep of home – on a normal day, it takes 40 minutes to drive into work but get the traffic wrong and it can be a two hour journey – nicht gut! Add that to the still occasional disturbed night’s sleep that a one year old can bring and it can be a killer. As selfish as it sounds, I dread her catching another cold or teething again – my priority is of course whether she is ok(!) but I can’t lie that I don’t then wonder how much sleep I’ll lose and dread my alarm going off!
I am constantly asked why I do it, why put myself through that when I could maybe find a job closer to my doorstep?
I fought to do what I do (again) today. I say ‘again’ as my first jobs, having always wanted to work in TV and Media were for the BBC and Granada as well as having my own column in my local paper. I also did random jobs like rollerblading around the country for the new Diet Pepsi roadshow – as you do. Once I grew up a bit and moved out with my now hubbie, it was time to get a mortgage. Working as a freelancer didn’t have the same appeal by this point and, both being freelancers at the time, mortgage companies wouldn’t touch us with a barge pole. It was time to get real and look for something more ‘sensible.’
I decided to have a look at what was out there in the media industry but panicked that I had now been out of it for too long to be taken seriously any more. Thankfully I was invited in to see a fabulous TV and video production company, then based at MediaCityUK, with bases there and in China and the rest, as they say, is history.
That was now four and a half years ago and I haven’t looked back once. I can honestly say that my job is my passion, my hobby. I love the work and I love the people. I am surrounded by people on the same level and no longer have ‘the itch.’ It is a fantastic, and I appreciate enviable, position to be in, but my God, have I worked hard for it and to be back here.
Life is definitely tougher with a child in the mix too. The nights I get home at 7pm, I have to practically get her straight to bed or ring my husband and ask that he starts her routine as I’m stuck in traffic. I dislike those nights, I have to say, but I do manage to strike a balance, and I hope one day she agrees that I did that.
We also work on a huge, well known TV show which can mean that we are filming into the very early hours, resulting in getting into bed any time between 12am – 5am – these are of course days when I don’t see that little smile at all albeit my husband always sends me a little picture of her all tucked up in her PJs which helps (me at least).
Monday and Thursday, when I work full days, I am lucky enough to have my mother in law and parents look after her respectively. Tuesday and Wednesday she is in nursery 8am-6pm – my husband takes her and I pick her up, meaning I leave work at 4pm to avoid the traffic. Fridays I don’t work and we have a lovely, quality mummy and daughter day. That day is so important to me.
Thankfully, our director understands that it is results that are important, not time-serving. I wish for so many people that their companies understood this too. It works both ways. I have always wanted to give my all when it comes to my work but it makes you want to do that more so when you are given the respect and freedom from the top to say what is effectively, “You’re doing a good job, it doesn’t matter about the exact hours you do it in.” It is all about give and take and I respect that so much. Equally, I understand that on occasion, I will have to work a longer Tuesday or Wednesday or go in on a Friday but because the respect and the trust is given, I want to repay it, and everyone is happy.
I asked a male friend who is MD at his company recently and whom has two young children, also travelling a lot with work, “How do you maintain the balance?” He stated that he picks and chooses the trips he takes and makes sure he never works weekends. Choice is what gives us the balance, and the balance is what keeps us all sane, let’s face it!
Equally, I want her to know and to learn that the reason we are able to have such lovely times (and granted, the best things in life are indeed free!) are because mummy and daddy work so hard. Does money make us happy? In my opinion no (it certainly helps!), but no, money gives us choices and I feel it is the luxury of choice that contents us.
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