Well the past two and a half years feels like a whirlwind. It takes me to a place where I feel I've been running so fast, but everything around me has changed at such a quick pace it's been hard to keep up.
Becoming a mother has been a far bigger life change than I would have ever expected. I wouldn't ever take it back, not for a second. It has just been the biggest adjustment of my life. The transition of picking up my life and moving from Melbourne to London wouldn't even come close.
The thing about change and dealing with it, especially when it's not just you that you have to worry about, is that you can have the best laid out plans in the world but the universe works in it's own way and what you think are the next best steps for you just aren't.
I've shared moments through this blog when I resigned from my beloved job after deciding not to return from maternity leave. I started my little baby clothes bouquet business with the intention of working flexibly from home and being there for my family. It then all got a little too much and I had to take a step back from a lot of my commitments and finally last month I had to close down my little business. And that was a hard decision to make but the right one for me and my family.
Truth be told, I think I got so caught up in being the perfect everything, I was the perfect nothing. The biggest issue I had was that my home became the place where I strived so badly to be the best mother and wife that I could be but I couldn't switch off from my business, ever.
This brings me to today and I seem to have done a total 360 in terms of my thinking, desires and wishes for my family and I. A big factor in my decision to not return to work was feeling really anxious about someone else looking after my child more than I would be. On the flip side, I felt that I wouldn't be as successful in my job as my priorities have shifted.
It turns out all I needed was some time. Because sometimes adjustments can't just happen over night. You need time, you need to grow and you need time to think.
For about a year now, alongside my other projects I've been working casually getting back in the HR game. It started off as very few hours and it's increased over time. The first few months were very difficult and it took me awhile to get my self confidence back. Over time, I've started to love my job again. It's been so nice to get out of the house, work hard, banter with some new found work buddies and feel like I'm making a positive impact. I've also come to the realisation that I can be good at my job and be a mummy and I'm getting closer to mastering the art of to balance.
Contracting was never going to be a permanent solution and the job that I do really is a busy Monday to Friday type thing. However just recently, the universe did it's thing and I''m so happy to tell you all that I've been offered the chance to try out a job share arrangement. I was a little nervous about how this could work initially but the more I think about it, the more I realise what a wonderful opportunity it is.
So as of next week my 'new normal' starts. I really think it's going to be the most normal things have been since becoming a mother. I will work for half the week. I will get to go into the office and do a job I truly love. I will advise people who will listen to my opinions (because I tell you there are some days where I truly wonder if Baby Girl or hubby take anything I say seriously). For the other half of the week I get to be a mum, with the confidence that my fabulous job share partner is looking after things in the office leaving me no worries. Being able to leave my job at the office will mean that when I am home my only focus will be my family.
I can be comfortable that whilst Baby Girl loves her time at nursery, I will still get to be there for her more often than not. I will still have more days that I get to spend with her over being in the office. And even though she is adamant that "Daddy is her best friend" right now, perhaps I'll be able to work at changing that.
Thank you universe, I know that you know what's good for me, better than I do for myself. You're kind of alright :)
Now let's please keep this new normal going for a little bit because I think I'm going to like it here.
I would love to hear how you balance things as a mum whether you're a stay at home, working mum or work at home mum?
Kat :)
Linking this post to #coolmumclub
I would love to connect with you! You can find me on:
Becoming a mother has been a far bigger life change than I would have ever expected. I wouldn't ever take it back, not for a second. It has just been the biggest adjustment of my life. The transition of picking up my life and moving from Melbourne to London wouldn't even come close.
The thing about change and dealing with it, especially when it's not just you that you have to worry about, is that you can have the best laid out plans in the world but the universe works in it's own way and what you think are the next best steps for you just aren't.
I've shared moments through this blog when I resigned from my beloved job after deciding not to return from maternity leave. I started my little baby clothes bouquet business with the intention of working flexibly from home and being there for my family. It then all got a little too much and I had to take a step back from a lot of my commitments and finally last month I had to close down my little business. And that was a hard decision to make but the right one for me and my family.
Truth be told, I think I got so caught up in being the perfect everything, I was the perfect nothing. The biggest issue I had was that my home became the place where I strived so badly to be the best mother and wife that I could be but I couldn't switch off from my business, ever.
This brings me to today and I seem to have done a total 360 in terms of my thinking, desires and wishes for my family and I. A big factor in my decision to not return to work was feeling really anxious about someone else looking after my child more than I would be. On the flip side, I felt that I wouldn't be as successful in my job as my priorities have shifted.
It turns out all I needed was some time. Because sometimes adjustments can't just happen over night. You need time, you need to grow and you need time to think.
For about a year now, alongside my other projects I've been working casually getting back in the HR game. It started off as very few hours and it's increased over time. The first few months were very difficult and it took me awhile to get my self confidence back. Over time, I've started to love my job again. It's been so nice to get out of the house, work hard, banter with some new found work buddies and feel like I'm making a positive impact. I've also come to the realisation that I can be good at my job and be a mummy and I'm getting closer to mastering the art of to balance.
Contracting was never going to be a permanent solution and the job that I do really is a busy Monday to Friday type thing. However just recently, the universe did it's thing and I''m so happy to tell you all that I've been offered the chance to try out a job share arrangement. I was a little nervous about how this could work initially but the more I think about it, the more I realise what a wonderful opportunity it is.
So as of next week my 'new normal' starts. I really think it's going to be the most normal things have been since becoming a mother. I will work for half the week. I will get to go into the office and do a job I truly love. I will advise people who will listen to my opinions (because I tell you there are some days where I truly wonder if Baby Girl or hubby take anything I say seriously). For the other half of the week I get to be a mum, with the confidence that my fabulous job share partner is looking after things in the office leaving me no worries. Being able to leave my job at the office will mean that when I am home my only focus will be my family.
I can be comfortable that whilst Baby Girl loves her time at nursery, I will still get to be there for her more often than not. I will still have more days that I get to spend with her over being in the office. And even though she is adamant that "Daddy is her best friend" right now, perhaps I'll be able to work at changing that.
Thank you universe, I know that you know what's good for me, better than I do for myself. You're kind of alright :)
Now let's please keep this new normal going for a little bit because I think I'm going to like it here.
I would love to hear how you balance things as a mum whether you're a stay at home, working mum or work at home mum?
Kat :)
Linking this post to #coolmumclub
I would love to connect with you! You can find me on:
Wow this sounds like the start of a wonderful new normal which will hopefully be a lot more balanced for you. Look forward to hearing how it all goes lovely and thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub xx
ReplyDeleteOh this is such an honest true line 'you need time, you need to grow and you need time to think.' - absolutely and with that we can make decisions calmly. But you must always remember that you can always change your mind - if things don't work out which I'm sure they will - but never think something is irreversible - if it's right now then that is great and i really do wish you all the best my lovely xx #coolmumclub
ReplyDeleteAh I didn't realise you moved from Melbourne. My cousin who's like my big Sis lives there. We love Melbourne! It sounds like you have lots to look forward to. I've just left my City career to try out some different things. It's nerve-wracking but I'm excited too. We'll have to keep in touch!!!
ReplyDeleteEveryone does for sure! No wonder, uncertainty of the unknown is always appreciated. Online casino slot games allow you to jump out in excitement when you are playing at a slot machine and suddenly you hit a bonus feature at random. Baccarat game
ReplyDeleteThis was lovely, thanks for sharing this
ReplyDelete