Life as a working mum

There are so many different types of people in this world, and behind the exterior there is someone fighting their own battle and overcoming personal challenges. This is a series looking at the strong girls and women in my life.

My big sister has always been a strong role model for me—as a big sister often is. I remember as a child going through a stage of just watching her, and everything she did, I wanted to do too. As we got older, our relationship turned from sisterhood to friendship. We have been through a lot together, and where we stand today is a friendship that I could only hope everyone has.

At 30 years old, my sister owns her own house, is married, has two children—a 5-year old girl, and a 1-year old boy—is on the charity committee at her daughter’s school, and excels in the workplace. I watch and learn in awe—superwoman!

I was curious to know what challenges she faces as a woman on the career ladder when being a mum seems like a full-time job. ‘Mum guilt is the worst,’ she says. ‘I feel so happy I am providing for my family, but it can be hard when my 5-year-old says she’s sad I can’t pick her up every day from school.’ Understandably, it can be quite distressing for younger children to see some parents present at every school event, when this is impractical for working parents.

This must be a common problem, so how do today’s working mums overcome this? ‘I make sure I am very open. I talk about it with her to ensure she knows I am doing my best for all of us and spend as much quality time with her as I can. I also look for positive solutions to suggest them to the school as I think it is important the school is aware of the impact their decisions (planning sports days, class assemblies and open days all on different days) have on my child, myself, and the company. I am very lucky to have flexibility and that my workplace understands the importance of family. This often allows me to play both roles.’

I can see how being a mum impacts a career, but what I really wanted to know next was how being a mum impacts the way they view their career. As my sister says, supporting yourself on the decisions you have made is very important, regardless of any judgement you may face. ‘I have taken a lot of judgement surrounding the idea that I have “settled” due to my family situation. I have a good support network at work to allow me to handle the dreaded “pick your child up urgently” call. I think it’s a cultural thing in the workplace—it’s either there or it isn’t. It has a detrimental impact on a working family when it’s not.’

Being a working mum raises so many points for discussion and brings many challenges, but of course there are other challenges and experiences aside from this. As a woman in a male-orientated industry, I wanted to know my sister’s experiences: ‘As a PA, every single one of my peers is female, in a male-dominated field of science. This brings the stereotypes challenge but my workplace is very focused on diversity to ensure everyone is equal. It’s exciting and refreshing to see a place that genuinely places so much emphasis on equality.’

‘I don’t know what I would be if I didn’t have kids in my mid 20s. What I do know however, is that I love my job!’