Balancing Act …Fulltimeworkingmummy

I have been fascinated by the reactions that people have had to me when I was on maternity leave, when I was getting ready to go back to work, and now that I am back at work. I find that some people are very judgemental about how they expect families to work. Well, I’ve got news for you everyone, we’re all different, we all have different needs and that is one of the amazing things about us.

My aim is to share the stories of families of all different types and spread the word that we are all playing a #BalancingAct to get through and raise our little people the best way we can. Let’s celebrate the diversity between our families, let’s not judge each other.

So, this week it’s over to Becky at Fulltimeworkingmummy.

1. We are first time and last time parents, Ian and Rebecca to our only son Henry who is 3 years old, we live in Devon and are enjoying the experience of bringing up our child later in life as we are both 43.  In fact when I was pregnant I was classed as a geriatric mother throughout my pregnancy, this combined with a number of other factors means we will not be trying for a second child.
2. Before I had Henry I was a National Account Manager for a large blue chip company in the automotive industry, I had worked there for 12 years working my way up from area manager to National Account Manager

3. My work life balance was extremely poor in this role often working 14-16 hour days as well as writing reports into the evenings and weekends

4. I had 14 months off on maternity leave and I found it exhilarating and exciting albeit exhausting at times, it was lovely not to be working.

5. I unfortunately had to return to my job as a National Account Manager due to financial reasons, I returned on a 4 day week basis and increased my hours over those 4 days so I only ended up taking a 10% pay cut.  It was a truly awful time returning to work and I suffered from panic attacks in the early days, I found that I could not continue in the role due to the very long hours and the fact that I was very often away from home so I changed roles to a Business Development Manager role closer to home, this was on a 5 day week basis, I found being located in an office extremely difficult and handed my notice in after a period of 6 months having got another Key Account Manager role based from home, as my manager really wanted me to stay he offered for me to work from home with Henry in the afternoons so I took him up on this offer!

6. Work has changed for me because it no longer is my priority, I do not have the drive I had before I had a baby, I see it as a day job and I want a clear definition between home and work time whilst in the past this was very blurred.

7. My work life balance in 3 words would be: Very lucky currently!  I am very aware that I am blessed to be able to work from home every afternoon and watch my son develop and grow whilst still holding down and being paid for a full time job.

8. Am I happy with my work life balance?  No I am not sure I would ever be very happy, I feel when I am at work I should be at home and when I am at home I feel Henry could learn so much more socialising with other children at nursery.  I would love to be a stay at home mum but I am not sure that would be right for me or Henry.  I have a goal which is to demonstrate that you get nice things if you work hard for them, I want Henry to see me as a role model, it is difficult balancing everything and sometimes I am exhausted at the end of the day but I wouldn’t change anything I don’t think.

9. Would I change anything:  Yes I would like my 2 boys to get out of bed and hurry up when I am working an early so that I can get on!!!! 🙂

Details

www.fulltimeworkingmummy.wordpress.com

Twitter: @henrymacaulay

For all the previous posts, see the #BalancingAct page.

If you think you’d like to get involved in this feature and share your story, please leave a comment, tweet me @mamavsteacher or email me mamavsteacher@outlook.com.

 

1 year after returning to work

It is officially an entire year since I returned to work from maternity leave.  Those 12 months have been some of the longest of my life.

I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to put in to words how I felt successfully so I’ve doodled my ideas.

I have resolved to encourage other Mama’s and Daddy’s to find the best working and family balance and situation for them and their families.  I think I’m finding this increasingly difficult as I find my own balance becomes more unsatisfactory but I do think that some of the examples that we’ve heard from have been truly inspirational.  Em from Brummymummyof2 (featured here on #BalancingAct) keeps me fascinated in her little world with her energy and enthusiasm whilst managing teaching (part time) and family life.  So many of the other people who have been on #BalancingAct has it far more ‘sorted’ than I do but likewise there’s been a good number who are still struggling to find any balance!

I often find myself in utter awe of some women who seem to find time and energy where I have none and who have created their own successful businesses, no matter how big or small, after they’ve had children.

One year later, I still love working and not being at home all the time but I am just so tired of the constant pressure from my work world demanding time of my home world and the two not being able to coexist nicely.  I need to work, I am wired that way but there is now a huge part of me that needs to be able to be with my family and to spend time more relaxed than I spend my days now.

In 7 1/2 weeks, I move to a new school and I have a lot of hope pinned on this being the chance that I need for things to change in my favour and to feel like I’m winning a bit more.  Who knows?! I may get very lucky and there may be drastic changes, however, after 7 years in schools, I have a whole heap of cynicism to go with me now!

So the conclusion is that after a year back in the classroom, I am still Mamavsteacher! I am still struggling to find a balance of both worlds and still struggling to not feel that working Mama guilt.

If you’ve been enjoying my struggle for balance and my journey as a full time working Mama, then I’d love it if you could spare 2 minutes to nominate me for the Mum and Working Working Parent Blogger 2015. Click the link and follow the website through.

Balancing Act… RunJumpScrap

I have been fascinated by the reactions that people have had to me when I was on maternity leave, when I was getting ready to go back to work, and now that I am back at work.  I find that some people are very judgemental about how they expect families to work.  Well, I’ve got news for you everyone, we’re all different, we all have different needs and that is one of the amazing things about us.

My aim is to share the stories of families of all different types and spread the word that we are all playing a #BalancingAct to get through and raise our little people the best way we can. Let’s celebrate the diversity between our families, let’s not judge each other.

So, this week it’s over to Sarah at RunJumpScrap.

1. Tell me about your family

Hi! My name is Sarah. I’m wife to Chris and Mummy to my 18 month old little daughter, who is affectionately know as gremlin on my blog. That’s been her nickname since she was born. 

2. What was your job/position before you started your family?

Before we started a family I was working full-time as a Metabolic Dietitian in a local hospital. I’d been in this post about 3 years. I look after people with genetic disorders which means they can’t break down certain parts of food. For example a part of protein or fat. They are on special, restrictive diets.

3. What was your work-life balance like?

I always think I had a good work-life balance. My hours are good; 8.30-4.30 and I rarely worked over unless we had a late clinic. I love my job. I have a great work colleague who I would class as one of my closest friends now. The job isn’t really stressful, it’s interesting, you are always learning and I look after some lovely people and help them follow very difficult and restrictive diets. However, I never have lived to work and never claimed to do so. I enjoy being at home and spending time with my family. I always wanted to be a Mum, enjoy my job and earn enough to be comfortable which I feel I have achieved. My blog talks about fitness and scrapbooking and these are also things I wanted to have time for out of work, as well as seeing friends. 

4. How did you find being away from work when you were on maternity leave?

Absolutely fine. I did stay in contact with my team and my colleague was also on maternity leave at the same time. She went back 6 months before me so kept me in the loop. I was far too deep into the “new Mummy” bubble which involved copious amounts of tea, breastfeeding, meeting other Mummies and walking the entire area I live in 10,000 times with my gorgeous girl. It was great! 

5. Have you returned to some kind of work since having baby and how did you come to that decision? 

I now work 3 days in the same job. I was always going to go back. I knew I needed to continue my career, bring some money home but also allow my little girl to socialise and become independent at nursery. I wanted to be a Mum but not just “Mum”. I still wanted to be Sarah the Dietitian and be a good role model for my daughter.  

6. How (if at all) has work changed since you returned (if you did)?

I wasn’t stressed at all about going back but I’d say it took me took me 2 months to settle back down. I was quite anxious and had some insomnia for a bit but this has passed. Work has changed for me. I’m not full time so cannot be as involved with all the patients like I used to. I can’t take on projects and get them done as quickly either. When I worked full-time work was more my life and I probably used to talk about it more at home. Now I’m working 3 days this isn’t the case. I still love it and get excited when my colleague and I come up with new ideas for our service but getting home, seeing my family and having time for my hobbies are more important. I want to be home in time to have a bath with my daughter!!

7. Describe your work-life balance now in 3 words.

Relaxed, just right

8. This might be difficult to answer, but are you happy with your work-life balance?

Yes I am. I think working more would be too much and working less would mean I’d miss out too much at work. I get 4 days a week with my daughter and we always do things together like baby classes, walk, shop, play and visit family and friends. I’m very lucky as my hubby works from home and I can fit in early morning gym sessions so give my exercise-addict brain some down-time. I must admit, as my hubby does the nursery drop offs and pick ups, my gremlin is always a bit more of a Daddy’s girl on those days and I miss her but it’s great they have such a good relationship,

9. Would you change anything about the family and work balance that you currently have?

Not at the moment. If hubby was getting up and going out early and I was doing all the drop offs and pick ups I think I’d find it a lot harder but currently it works and we are all happy.

Details

Website: www.runjumpscrap.com
Twitter: @runjumpscap
Facebook: www.facebook.com/runjumpscrap
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/Sazzyboo/

For all the previous posts, see the #BalancingAct page.

If you think you’d like to get involved in this feature and share your story, please leave a comment, tweet me @mamavsteacher or email me mamavsteacher@outlook.com.