Hello Clare, 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?
Senior Recruitment Consultant for a boutique agency in London. My children are 22 months and 4 months. My son went to nursery 3 days a week when I was back at work and I plan to go back to work next Spring 4 days a week.
1. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW BEING A WOMO MAKES YOU FEEL?
Proud.
2. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD JUGGLING KIDS AND WORK?
I would say when I was on a client zoom call and my son was off sick from nursery and he decided to join in on my call and interrogated the client. I didn’t have anyone else to put him back to bed so I was running around like a headlless chicken trying to keep both parties happy!
3. WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD OFFER ANOTHER WOMO?
Don’t feel guilty for being a WoMo, you’re doing it for you and the kids so a win win!
4. WHAT’S THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SLEEP YOU’VE GONE TO WORK ON AND HOW DID YOU COPE?
3 hrs, I’m lucky in that I’ve always had stamina so I managed to push through!
5. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WOMO?
That I need to work or to have my own projects to work on to allow myself to keep flourishing. I’m an ambitious person who has high standards which can also be a catch 22!
6. IF YOU HAD A WORKING MOTHER’S ANTHEM OR MANTRA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Go with the flow.
7. WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE TO COMBAT WOMO GUILT THE BEST?
A workout or meeting a friend for a coffee or more importantly a glass of wine!
8. WOULD YOU RATHER BE DEALING WITH A TANTRUM OR PRESENTING IN A BOARD MEETING?
A tantrum, however I’m fairly new to the tantrums so this may change!
9. IF YOU ASKED YOUR CHILDREN WHAT YOUR JOB IS, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
They are too young to understand!
10. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOU BECAME A WOMO?
To never underestimate how big a job it is juggling two under two!
11. TO DATE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST WOMO ACHIEVEMENT?
Setting up my instagram page claresdailyedit – it's a page highlighting my passions such as fashion and beauty. It’s a full time job in itself but it’s allowed me to keep up my creative flare.
12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT WORKING MOTHERS?
That it’s ok to want to work, that you can do anything you want to do and to never underestimate yourself which I perhaps did a few too many times!
IG claresdailyedit