Working mums – Twinkles and More – Mummascribbles

As a working mum, some days I find it extremely difficult while on others it’s nice to be able to sit and have a hot cup of tea without having to wipe a nose or change a nappy! I know there are a heck of a lot of working mums out there, some love it, some hate it, others are somewhere in the middle. I thought it would be interesting to see exactly how others feel about being a working mum and maybe we can all learn a little something about dealing with that dreaded mummy guilt!

This week I have Jemma from Twinkles and More answering all those working mummy questions.

Tell me a little bit about who is in your family
In our family there’s me and my husband, Simon. We have three children, Oscar who is 5 and our twins, Henry and Heidi who are 2.

What age were your children when you returned to work?
I returned to work straight from taken maternity leave both times. Oscar was 10 months old and the twins were 9 months.

Did you return to a job away from the home or within the home?
Away from the home.

Did you choose to return or did your circumstances force you back?
I chose to return. I love my children, but staying home with them all day doesn’t work for me. It’s a very personal choice. Plus I like the little luxuries such as nice holidays and me working allows us to indulge in these.

Did you return to work full or part time?
Part time. I work 3 1/2 days and I think it provides the perfect balance.

What childcare do you have in place and how did you go about choosing it?
We are very lucky that we have the luxury of our parents being able to help. The twins do go to nursery one day a week though, which we chose when we had Oscar. We made the decision based on location and where he seemed to settle best when we visited a few in the local area.

What do you find the most difficult about being a working mum?
Definitely when my kids are ill and juggling everything becomes really difficult.

How do you deal with the working mummy guilt?
By trying to spend the time I’m home with them effectively so that they get lots of attention and really making the most of things like holidays, which we wouldn’t be able to afford if I didn’t work. Plus, I always remind myself that I’m a much nicer mum and wife when I work – my husband was almost begging me to go back to work when I got close to the end of maternity leave, I was a bit of a crazy lady!

How did you feel when it was time to go back to work?
Sad and emotional, but deep down I knew it was the right thing to do. It was nice having a lunch break and being able to nip to the loo on my own!

Is your work/life balance what you want it to be or would you rather work less or more?
I think it’s pretty good.

What advice would you give to a mummy heading back to work?
It’s hard to begin with but you’ll soon settle into your new routine. Be kind to yourself, you don’t need to be superwoman and your house doesn’t always need to be tidy! Try and let go of the things that don’t matter.

Jemma, thank you so much for giving us an insight into your experiences as a working mum. I just cannot imagine juggling work with three children! I definitely agree with you that one of the worst things is when your children are ill. I had to make a decision one day when I pulled up at Zach’s nursery, looked at him and just thought, I cannot leave you! I drove home and spent the day snuggled on the sofa with him! At times like that, our children have to take priority. It sounds like you have a fab balance and it’s fab that you have the grandparents on hand – nursery is a fortune for one, let alone double! Enjoy the luxuries when you get them…you deserve it

Along with her blog Twinkles and More, you can find Katie over on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.