Hello Sonia, tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do, how old are your children and what happens with your kids when you are at work?
I’m a Career Design Coach working exclusively with women to help them unlock their passions. I have a 15 month old daughter called Cora, who goes to nursery 3 days a week. I work when she’s in nursery, and on nursery days whenever I can – nap time, snack time, or when she’s in bed.
1. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW BEING A WOMO MAKES YOU FEEL?
Powerful!
2. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD JUGGLING KIDS AND WORK?
Probably last week on a formal discovery call, which was perfectly timed with bath time which is next door to my office. My husband was giving her a bath, had no idea that I was on a client zoom. The client heard everything – the shrieking, the team singing of wheels on the bus, the splashing, even the “have you done a wee in there?” ha!
3. WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD OFFER ANOTHER WOMO?
That it’s not selfish to want and need to be not just a mum, but to be you as well. That the need to work, to feed your brain, to see your friends, to make time for yourself makes you a better person, and in turn, and even better mum.
4. WHAT’S THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SLEEP YOU’VE GONE TO WORK ON AND HOW DID YOU COPE?
I think when I was studying for my Master Practitioner in NLP. Cora was 12 weeks old and I was still breastfeeding so she was up 4 times a night, and then we were in the room studying from 10am – 8pm with homework in the evenings. I coped via many biscuits and great company! :)
5. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WOMO?
That I Need to Work – that I need to have my own thing and my own career path and calling. Even if I won the lottery I would still have this career as I absolutely love helping women unlock their firepower. This need to do my own thing with urgency has really surprised me – I feel even more independent now as a WoMo than I did before she was born.
6. IF YOU HAD A WORKING MOTHER’S ANTHEM OR MANTRA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Who runs the world – GIRLS!
7. WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE TO COMBAT WOMO GUILT THE BEST?
My guilty pleasure – dropping Cora off at nursery then straight to the gym – I feel like superwoman when I sit down at my desk at 9:30 and I know Cora is happy and I’ve already looked after my physical and mental wellbeing. Or booking in a girls dinner once a fortnight with baby talk limited to the first glass of wine – an absolute must!
8. WOULD YOU RATHER BE DEALING WITH A TANTRUM OR PRESENTING IN A BOARD MEETING?
A board meeting! Although Cora is already happy to accept bribes of either Spot the Dog on YouTube/bananas/dark chocolate covered rice cakes so hopefully when she hits terrible twos tantrum she will remain bribeable.
9. IF YOU ASKED YOUR CHILDREN WHAT YOUR JOB IS, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
Probably “nana” – the person who gives her bananas, “babba” – the person who turns on the bubble machine on, “duck” – the person who takes her for a walk, or “nelly” – the person who gives her cuddly toys and puts her down for naps. Hopefully this will evolve over time!
10. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOU BECAME A WOMO?
That they grow out of clothes so quickly so there is no need to over buy!
That there was going to be global pandemic so squeeze in the babymoon early (still not over it).
That you can never have too many girls holidays!
11. TO DATE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST WOMO ACHIEVEMENT?
Starting to study for my NLP Master Practitioner when she was 7 weeks old with no childcare. I have vivid memories of bouncing Cora in the Babybjorn with one hand, listening to the audio classes and writing notes with the other. And then attending the course for 2 weeks and zipping out to feed her in the breaks. I realised that as mothers, we can do anything we set our minds to!
12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT WORKING MOTHERS?
I want Cora to know that working mothers are wonder women. And I hope that as she grows up, she realises that in her career, and when she is a mum, she can become anything she wants to be, and that she doesn’t have to follow the norm. She can create her own career based around the things she loves. She just has to be brave, work hard, and follow her gut instinct!
IG soniaatcause
Website: https://www.soniamcnamara.com/