Sitting down for my meeting, I wasn’t sure if the flutters I felt were the first movements of the baby growing inside me, or just excitement from the realisation I was going to be a mother at last.Eight weeks pregnant with my first child, I was euphoric. But it still had to be a secret…for now. I was meeting a person at work who also had a secret, but one he was eager to share. ‘An important … [Read more...]
Sparkly working mums
"Mummy! It's snowing!""No darling, it's a snow machine. We're just a movie, remember?"I Don’t Know How She Does It is the book I’ve dreamt of writing, until I discovered it already existed. And now the movie has launched, the spotlight momentarily shines on the plight of the working mother.I trotted into the cinema, bracing myself for what I heard would be a disappointing interpretation of the … [Read more...]
Separation anxiety – the adult type
I have a confession to make (apart from just scoffing an entire block of Green and Black’s chocolate). I can’t fly away from my children. By that I mean, I can’t leave my children with someone, go to the airport and take a flight to another city, whether it be for work or pleasure. Until now, I’ve kept this as my own dark and guilty secret. Guilty because I think it makes me look … [Read more...]
Working Mum – a dirty term?
This week I ruffled some feathers when I used the term ‘working mum’ in an article I wrote for the corporate world. It was a slap in the face for someone who feels strongly about supporting mothers who choose (or have little choice) to work.The offence? Apparently ‘working mum’ suggests: “she’s a mum first and a worker second”. The complainant argued that some women prefer a ‘professional front’ … [Read more...]
Confessions of a BC bitch
Recently, I blogged about women hiding their motherhood at work. With the likes of me, is it really any wonder? I was a corporate bitch clambering my way to the top. If anyone got in my way I would stab them with my heel, chew them up and spit them out - especially any of those soft-assed working-mum types.Ok, major exaggeration for the sake of a good opener.It is, however, true to say that my … [Read more...]
The Pilot Mum talks
Remember my blog about the Pilot Mum and my flying neurosis? Well, I did stalk her in the end and here is the promised interview. The Pilot Mum has been flying for more than 21 years for a major airline (I’ll leave you to guess which one). She also has two beautiful boys aged four and six. Here’s an insight into how she juggles the demands of her chosen career with motherhood.M: How did you start … [Read more...]
Undercover mums
I recently blogged about a difficult decision to knock back a pretty amazing job at a pretty amazing company. While there were generous offers of flexibility, I just couldn’t reconcile in my mind how I would handle a call from the CEO during an awkward domestic situation: Phone rings Me: “Hello.” Amazing CEO: “Hello. This is amazing CEO of amazing company here. I need you to do something … [Read more...]