Hi Jo, tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do, and who looks after your children when you are working?
I’m Jo, Career Mum of 3: a 3 yr old girl and 18 month-old twin boys (nope, twins aren’t in the family and yes it was a massive shock!) I currently have a Portfolio Career, where I work one day a week contracted to teach in FE and then I work freelance as a Career Coach specialising in helping mums navigate career transitions from pregnancy onwards. I set up my own business (accidentally really) in January 2021 during lockdown 0.3 as I was feeling so flat with not being able to go anywhere and confined to the house with 3 kids under 3. I joined a free online LinkedIn marketing challenge to give some focus and it went from there.
When I’m in my teaching role, I am really lucky that mother-in-law looks after the rabble. My 3 year old goes to a childminder around the corner 3 days a week and I look after the twins on those days. I try to steal pockets of time to get work done whilst the boys nap or if they are having a TV half hour. Other than that, I work evenings when I’m not too exhausted and the odd chunk of time at a weekend, when daddy is around. My parents will also pop up in the day to watch the twins if I have a Zoom meeting or an hour of prep to do for any upcoming coaching sessions.
1. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW BEING A WOMO MAKES YOU FEEL?
So difficult to choose just one. Purposeful.
2. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD JUGGLING KIDS AND WORK?
3 x pooey nappies at the same time. Nuff said
3. WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD OFFER ANOTHER WOMO?
Whatever you decide is best for you and your family is the right decision.
4. WHAT’S THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SLEEP YOU’VE GONE TO WORK ON, AND HOW DID YOU COPE?
Oh my days, probably about 2 hours and I honestly felt drunk. Had the windows wound down in the car to keep me awake, drank loads of water and got my students to do group work and a mock exam so I could cabbage.
5. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WOMO?
That I am more resilient than I thought. Before I had kids, I looked at other mums and was petrified that I would not cope, as I regularly had a lie down before my dinner when I got home from work before motherhood!
6. IF YOU HAD A WORKING MOTHER’S ANTHEM OR MANTRA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
The tag line on my website is ‘You Can be a Mum and More’
7. WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE TO COMBAT WOMO GUILT THE BEST?
Doing arts and crafts and messy play always makes me feel like I’m being a proper mum lol!
8. WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE DEALING WITH A TANTRUM OR PRESENTING IN A BOARD MEETING?
Probably the tantrum, as I can ignore it until it goes away!
9. IF YOU ASKED YOUR CHILDREN WHAT YOUR JOB IS, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
College teacher
10. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOU BECAME A WOMO?
That returning to work after my first would be challenging emotionally, I was not mentally prepared at all.
11. TO DATE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST WOMO ACHIEVEMENT?
Establishing The Mum Mentor® so I can help other mums make their career work for them too.
12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT WORKING MOTHERS?
That there is equality in the status and responsibilities of each parent whatever their gender.