This week we are chatting to Naomi Joyce, who we met after she won our recent giveaway competition with Luna Gray. Naomi is 33 and a mum, wife, marketeer and equestrian. She has a toddler called Fin who is almost 2 and one on the way who shares a due date with Fin on April 14th!
Naomi works full time as Group Head of Marketing for a PLC: Mears Group. She loves her job and has worked hard to get where she is today but says ‘Wow, the mum juggle is real!’
We started our conversation around childcare which, for most WoMo’s looking to return to work, can be a minefield to navigate. Fin’s week is split between days at nursery and with a childminder who Naomi described as her guardian angel… She offered some brilliant advice to anyone who also facing this important decision.
“Shop around and go with what feels is right! Just because its a fancy/expensive options doesn't mean its the best for you and your baby. I also mix and match. Its hard finding the right option for our little darlings, so don't be afraid to speak out if something doesn't sit right and remember you always have options”
Returning to work after maternity leave had its challenges for Naomi. In fact, the most challenging element for her was finding the right childcare. She found it stressful and hated the thought of being away from her baby. He was born at the start of lockdown 2020 so the first year was just the three of them, in a bubble, with no pressure to do anything other than be a mum. The thought of finding someone else to look after him was really overwhelming. Luckily she found Gemma (her childminder) and was able to start phasing childcare by starting a few mornings a week and building on that. She delayed his nursery start until Fin was 18 months and found that pushing back on her initial plans made her feel in control of the situation.
Naomi works from home and shared that her WoMo guilty pleasure is to break from her desk, when work permits, with bump whilst Fin is in childcare. We agree Naomi, it’s so important to take those moments for yourself!
Being a working mum makes Naomi feel invincible and she would much rather be presenting at a board meeting as long as there is coffee, which is the one thing she could not live without as a WoMo!
‘There is just no reasoning with a toddler!’
Sharing what she has learned about herself as a WoMo Naomi says:
“You can have it all, but its not easy! I have discovered patience levels that I never knew existed. Resilience. I am also a multi-tasker extraordinaire - like if multi-tasking was an Olympic sport, I'd be a gold medallist. Being a mum is the best job in the world, but it’s important not to lose yourself (or your sanity) in the process.’
Something she wished she’s known before going on maternity leave was how quickly time flies! Going on to share that it was most magical time you will ever have becoming a mum, the highs most definitely balance out the lows urging other mums to not forget that.
Finally, Naomi offered some wonderful thoughts and advice on what she would like to teach future generations about being a WoMo. Becoming a mum doesn’t mean you have to stop your career ambitions. She went on to say that if you need to take a break that’s fine, if you want to go back to work a few months after having your baby, that's also fine.
‘No two mums experiences are the same’
‘We all just need to support each other and acknowledge how monumental becoming a mother is. Employers have come a long way on this journey but there is definitely more that can be done to support working mothers’
We are here for this and striving to support working mothers and their employers. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us, Naomi! We wish you all the best with baby number two.