Hello Rachel, tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do and how old are your children and what happens with your kids when you are at work?
I started out my career as a primary school teacher and founded ‘Educating Matters’ 20 years ago when my eldest child was born. Initially I supported working parents in large corporates with all aspects of raising and educating their children. I also speak in schools, run group parenting courses and 1:1 consultations.
Over time the Educating Matters offering has evolved and now we cover a broad range of topics beyond parenting to include: race, gender, LGBTQ+, carers, mental health & wellbeing, neurodiversity, disability, female health etc. We work globally in a wealth of different sectors: banking & finance, legal, retail, accounting, tech, construction, media, pharmaceuticals, food, utilities and recruitment.
I have 4 children between the ages of 20 and 11. When they were younger because I had my own business, I could work flexibly and fit it around the kids. Now they are older and much more independent, I am able to work full time when they are at school. As I mainly work with parents, I can take school holidays off as that is when my clients are likely to take annual leave anyway.
1. One word to describe how being a WoMo makes you feel?
Empowered
2. What is the one piece of advice you could offer another WoMo?
Be really conscious about your boundaries, so that you create enough time for work, enough time for your family and enough time for yourself. This is probably the hardest thing about being a WoMo but the most important element to get right. Not all 3 areas need to be in a perfect state of equilibrium all the time but if you don’t work on these boundaries, you can end up feeling that you are not doing well at work, or as a mother.
3. What’s the least amount of sleep you’ve gone to work on and how did you cope?
Fortunately I have always been a very early riser and never needed a lot of sleep. I am practically always up before my kids, even when they were really young, so no lie-ins at the weekend never bothered me once the kids came along.
4. What have you learned about yourself as a WoMo?
I have learnt to focus on what is really important and aiming for ‘good enough’ rather than perfect.
5. If you had a working mother’s anthem or mantra, what would it be?
Set realistic expectations for yourself and trust your own instincts. Don’t worry about what other people might say or think. You are the expert on your own family.
6. What is your guilty pleasure to combat WoMo guilt the best?
A night out with old friends.
7. Would you rather be dealing with a tantrum or presenting in a board meeting?
Definitely a tantrum – I’m a parent educator, so it gives me more material for my talks!!
8. If you asked your children what your job is, what would they say?
From my 11 year old: “My mum helps other parents learn how to be good parents and get on well with their kids.”
9. What’s the one thing you wish you’d known before you became a WoMo?
To be a time realist rather than a time optimist. Everything ends up taking longer than you think – with both work and parenting.
10. To date, what has been your best WoMo achievement?
Creating a very niche job for myself that I absolutely love and building a business from scratch. Even though I see myself as an educator rather than a business woman.
11. What do you want to teach your kids about working mothers?
I have 3 daughters so I have thought quite a lot about this. It will undoubtedly be incredibly challenging at times but having something to think about other than your family can give you a real sense of purpose and identity outside of being a mother.