Hello Liz, tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi my name is Liz. I am a WoMo with one child who is 10. I have freelanced as and advertising strategy planner since my son was one. Apart from one break of about 2 months I have been lucky enough to have found freelanced consistently to date. Working while Jake was at nursery was reasonably easy as the agencies I worked for were open to me leaving at 5pm to do the (stressful) dash to collect him for 6pm. Working while he was at school was more challenging as the wrap around care ended at 5pm. I had to pick up project work to be able to pick him up. It will be interesting to see how my work evolves now he has settled into secondary school.
1. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW BEING A WOMO MAKES YOU FEEL?
Fulfilled
2. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD JUGGLING KIDS AND WORK?
Running – as usual – I dashed into a client meeting on the edge of being late, pulled out my laptop and flung a pair my 2-year-old son’s pants onto the main client’s notebook. He was potty training at the time and, as we all know you never leave the house without spare pants in your bag.
3. WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD OFFER ANOTHER WOMO?
The phrase – ‘I’m flexible about flexible working’ has always got me far. If clients are flexible with me, I will be flexible in terms of helping them i.e. I will log on in the evening etc.
4. WHAT’S THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SLEEP YOU’VE GONE TO WORK ON AND HOW DID YOU COPE?
I count myself very lucky that this wasn’t too much of a problem as my son could sleep in a nightclub. The times he was up in the night I relied on coffee and honesty. People are generally pretty understanding.
5. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WOMO?
That having some work is vital to my happiness. I feel fulfilled, independent and empowered. I also get more done at home when I am busy at work.
6. IF YOU HAD A WORKING MOTHER’S ANTHEM OR MANTRA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
‘Parkinson’s Law – work fills the amount of time you have’. It is amazing how efficient you can be when you have the hard stop of a school gate pick up looming.
7. WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE TO COMBAT WOMO GUILT THE BEST?
Ice cream on the way home from school once in a while ‘because mum has been at work all day and you have been at school…
8. WOULD YOU RATHER BE DEALING WITH A TANTRUM OR PRESENTING IN A BOARD MEETING?
Deal with a tantrum definitely – no imposter syndrome…
9. IF YOU ASKED YOUR CHILDREN WHAT YOUR JOB IS, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
‘Mummy writes PowerPoint presentations’
10. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOU BECAME A WOMO?
You will always feel like you are doing neither job to its full potential but actually you are doing good enough.
11. TO DATE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST WOMO ACHIEVEMENT?
Never being late for a pick-up – there have been tears, sprinting and swearing at people to get out of my way but I have always managed to get to the nursery/school gate on time.
12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT WORKING MOTHERS?
Women can work and have children. If I had a daughter, I’d want her to see/believe that children weren’t a barrier to following her career. For my son I want him to value and support his wife if she works.