Being a working mum

I have had THE BEST time off with the children over the Christmas holidays but I have to say I am looking forward to them all getting back to school on Monday and getting back into our little routine.

I have 4 sons. They are 13, 11, 8 and 5.  I love them all dearly. They are behind everything I do and the reason I want to be successful! They motivate me to do my best every day.

There is no sugar coating it - Being a working mum is hard work.

I took 6 years off full time work to be at home with my babies and I will always cherish this time. I didn’t have any immediate plans to rush into a full time job again but Suddenly, I had an amazing opportunity given to me that I just couldn’t turn down and I took the leap back into full time work 18 months ago. It was difficult for us all to adjust at first but with a few tweaks and routine changes we soon got into the swing of things!

For me – Working makes me feel exhilarated and allows me to be myself. I feel challenged. I love being able to be me. I am so lucky to work for a company that have always been flexible and understanding to the fact that I have children. This has made me very loyal to them and motivates me to do my best work for them. I love my job. I think it makes me a better mum. I try to maintain a good work life balance.

The good things about being a working mum

• You can have a cup of tea – WARM - even HOT!
• You can wear WORK CLOTHES! Gone are the comfies!
• The Makeup comes out again.
• You can style your hair and be confident that no one will be putting  food in it.
• You arrive into work looking forward to a 'sit down' (One of my personal favorites)
• Adult conversations can be had without interruption (bliss)
• Lunch is civilised and can be eaten without sharing or interruptions
• Your drive to work turns into precious ‘me time’ – to listen to (Whatever you want) on the radio.
• People ask about you, not just your kids...
• Black is back – your clothes are safe from food and snot (kind of)
• You get your sense of identity back
• You earn money!
• You can wear HEELS again!
• You discover the joys of online grocery shopping
• You become extremely efficient and a master of multi tasking
• You can eat a full packet of Minstrels at your desk without sharing with any small people
• You race home because you’re bursting with excitement about collecting your children and hearing all about their day.
• Weekends are sacred!
• You cherish time off with them and make it seriously fun
• You don’t have to watch The Amazing World of Gumball every day.
• The Children have a great time at after school club with all their friends
• The not-so-good things about being a working mum               
• You run (totter) EVERYWHERE (Especially up the school path)
• You find you have a very loud morning “Mum voice” which even makes your nearest neighbours brush their teeth and put their shoes on.
• You walk into work scratching dried food or snot off your shoulders
• Your iPhone is always sticky and your handbag’s full of spare underpants and army men (sometimes small plastic super heroes)
• You’re surgically connected to your mobile phone in case the school calls
• You occasionally feel jealous when you see the mummies on the school run going home to spend precious time with their little pre schoolers. (Lovely memories)
• Getting to work on time takes loads of planning, begging and bribes.
• You’re a champion juggler, queen of multi-tasking and your mind is always fit to burst with things to remember
• You have an unlimited amount of different sports/ after school clubs/ swimming/ beavers/ clubs to factor into your schedule to ensure the kids are not “Missing out”
• You make lists in your sleep
• You wake up sweating in the middle of the night worrying that you have forgotten to put dinner money on Parent Pay.
• You are late for every parents evening.
• One of your children being given the school mascot for the weekend fills you with terror.
• Your house consistently looks like it has been burgled
• You NEVER get to the bottom of the laundry pile
• Nothing scares you more than a late pick up at after school club
• When you get to work you feel like you're half way through the day.
• You have a massive stomach churning  twang of “mum guilt” if you can’t attend an assembly ?(or any school related event)
• Your child free colleagues think you are a crazy person

But …. I would not change a thing. I want my boys to grow up with the memories of a working mum who always tried her best for them and was HAPPY! I want them to be proud of me.

Being a mum is honestly the BEST job in the world and even though my life is literally like a whirlwind some days, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I feel blessed.