London Mums Blog

Becoming a working girl...

No, I'm not planning to drop my (considerably more expansive post-children) knickers and go on the game (it's not an issue of morals; the pension plan just doesn't measure up to the public sector) but I do need to re-join the rat race. I left work in 2006 when, six months into my first pregnancy, my waters unexpectedly broke, and I haven't been back since. I merged seamlessly from one maternity leave to another, having my children in batches, like a hamster. Two and a half years on the coffers are empty, and unless we want to teach the kids early on how to fend off the bailiffs, it's time to go out and earn some cash.

Careers advice

The children and I were chatting idly about life and stuff the other day, when Child Two piped up. 'I want to find a nice boyfriend at university,' she confided.

Fair enough, I thought, and not at all difficult to achieve. University was, I dimly remember, a place uniquely well-stocked with potential boyfriends in my young day, several millennia ago - though, looking back on it, I'm not sure how many were nice.

'Why do you want a boyfriend?' Child One asked her. Child One has already informed me that my example has put her off men for life.

'I want to get married straight after university, so that I'll never have to get a job,' said Child Two blithely.

Eeek!

An introduction to head lice

Oh no. A sign on the door.

I dreaded these notices more than staying at Scottish grandma's in the winter, where once it was so cold I could actually see my breath escape from my mouth. Scottish grandma has a miniature wooden Swiss chalet on her fireplace mantle, a memento we had brought back from a skiing holiday, and it kindly reminded me of the temperature. Forty-two friggin' degrees. Fahrenheit. Inside the house.

We have had several cases of headlice recently – please check your child’s hair diligently.

Top reason for not having a home office: "mummy's having a poo!"

I’m lucky in that ever since my children were at nursery, I have been able to work on a part time, self employed basis - fitting the marketing projects I take on around their schedule and needs.

I planned my return to work carefully. I would work from home of course, my laptop on the kitchen table; it made sense - low overheads, an ability to keep abreast of the household chores.

In my mind I would be happily typing a presentation that advised a multi-national company on what strategic direction it should be taking whilst rustling up nutritionally-balanced meals that Annabel Karmel would be proud of.

It worked perfectly for two months; OK, fish fingers and baked beans featured on the menu more than usual (and even ended up splattered on my reports more than once) but we were muddling through.

The New Mummy Wars

To work or not to work? That is the question that many mums struggle over -- torn between career and being there for the children.

These wars, more prominent in the US, have been exemplified with the nomination of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as Republican John McCain’s vice presidential running mate.

With five children, one only five months old with special needs, and a pregnant teenage daughter, many are questioning whether she has the time to take on such an important role, and to be blunt, whether or not she should.

I find it very difficult to juggle part-time work and three kids. I am constantly tired and struggle to get the balance right. I am in awe of any woman that is so together that they take on motherhood AND the 2nd highest post in the world’s richest economic nation. But I can't help thinking that the reality is that one role will come first.