If you know me well, you know I thrive on the energy of adult conversations (the kind where you’re solving a communication challenge over coffee).
And I love being a parent. It’s a joy. But combining the two? I’m a card-carrying member of the Guilty Working Mum Club.
Most days feel like a never-ending balancing act between two things I care about. School holidays are the hardest.
Over the last two weeks, I have become more conscious that my balancing act has an audience.
Miss Nine has a front-row seat as I plan my week, manage my time, prioritise, and do multiple tasks at once.
And to my surprise, what I assumed might be a source of stress or confusion for her… has actually been a positive experience.
I recently had a moment when the guilt melted away, just for a second, and I saw myself through my child’s eyes. In that reflection, I felt proud.Yes, it’s hard being a working parent. Yes, we’re doing a better job of highlighting the challenges.
However, I also want to be a voice for the advantages of working parenthood beyond the financial benefits.
Whether you’re a parent or not, we’re often too quick to criticise ourselves.
Try seeing yourself from someone else’s perspective, like I did with our daughter, you might discover more to be proud of than you expected.
Caption: Working and caring might not be child’s play, but staying connected to your inner child is good!
PS: Big thanks to Jade Warne for sharing her prompt to create the Barbie-inspired action figure.