Mums get Sh*t done!

On a late Thursday night, whilst my wife Analisa and our seven and a half month old daughter Kay are fast asleep, I am still working away on my laptop with one million other thoughts going through my head, on how my wish is to one day be an entrepreneur … ok it’s a wish and I said to myself, “Matt, go to bed, your tired and not thinking clear” … having more work to do, I just got up went to the kitchen got some water and went back to work… no rest for the wicked hey!

Thinking aloud, I said, how does she manage! House spick and span, our little one is always, fed clean and happy, food is always ready when I’m home, and my shirt is always ironed in the morning, she works full time and just finished her 4th year at University thats one hell of a skill she must be super woman… I’m talking about my wife Analisa here, not my daughter, but watch the space she will be one too don’t worry!

I have always wondered how mothers did it, and always had big respect for them returning back to work, but never really understood what they had to go through when they went back home until I started experiencing it myself, day in, day out. Being an HR professional, and having worked in different industries I guess that in the workplace there is still a concern that a mother will not be as ‘available’ as childless employees, and that their priorities will be elsewhere, focused on their children rather than doing their job.

I have a different opinion, and I feel that mothers returning to work, become better at their job, and really focus on things that matter, they tend to be more efficient and being a parent myself, I realize that children will be watching, so in reality hard working mothers are setting an example on them about being passionate, hard-working and proud of what their mum is doing. I could go on and mention other working mothers that I know… but just looking at our super hero at home, I believe she is very productive, focused, knows how to enlist the help of others, knows how to prioritize tasks, and make the most out of every bit of time in her day… she even hugs me whilst sleeping … now how’s that for a loving wife :) …

So me thinking away on how to become an entrepreneur, and how long it will take me to be successful, when a mother become ‘Momprenur’ from one day to another, this is without studying for it, or spent hours in an office to gain experience. A woman should not hide the fact that she is a mum, it is our culture and mentality that needs to come out of the closet.

These are not the exceptions, but if you think about it they are everyday realities, mothers get up early and in most cases stay up late, but probably they are masters of time management and efficiency, they make lists and delegate, “Matt, left you a shopping list on the table, please go to the supermarket after work” aye aye captain! Mothers tend to focus on what matters, …what do I do on a Champions League night …. Go home sit on the sofa, watch the game! Analisa does not have time for unimportant tasks and commitments like me, not that family doesn’t matter to me, but nothing takes her away from our family, getting studies done, or accomplishing her other goals, she figures things out quickly and moves on, I could go on and on …. But the below probably sums up what mums could do from my personal and working life experience:

·      Mums are skilled multi-taskers

·      Mums know how to work under pressure

·      Mums have great negotiating skills …. This I get from my mum “Ma, I want to go out with friends, sure only if you eat all your vegetables” :)

·      Mums can be badass leaders too, I had some myself, hopefully she is reading!

And why am I saying all this, no my boss is not a mother, no I’m not saying this so my wife keeps on working to get more money home, no I’m not saying this to get the sympathy of mothers and mothers to be. I’m just saying this because mothers do all this and more without singing their praise, and I strongly believe that women should not hide the fact that they are a mum in order to progress in their career, be proud, it will not only feel good when you reach your goals, but it will feel better when your children reach their goals because they followed your footsteps. 

The bottom line, and I say this with respect to all mothers and from experience, Working Mums get sh*t done and this without any excuses… Respect!!

P.S …. Behind every successful mother, there is always a very patient and successful partner too, (bows down). Those working single parents out there even when its though keep hanging in there, when your children will grow up they will be so proud of you when they realize that you did it all alone!! 

Cheers to all the ‘MOMPRENEURS’ out there!! … Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions!!

I’d like to hear more from working mothers, what it’s like for you to be a working mum?

This article only reflects my personal opinion and not that of my employer.