Mums, I get it.
I get how heartbreaking it can feel to drop your kids off at school, practically throwing them out of the car on your way to the office.
I get how it feels to have to decide between keeping your job (and the pressure of that) and sending your child to daycare (and then before and after school)
I get how it feels to have to choose to send your kids to school feeling unwell because ‘they’re not that sick’ and you don’t have enough leave left to stay home.
I get it because I’ve been there, and it was going to be my life again for the next 12 years.
My son starts school next year and I still remember the amount of anxiety I was feeling about it. I remember thinking how am I going to make this work?! School starts at 9am and I had to be at the office from 8:30-5pm daily.
It meant sending him to before and after school care, plus school. And it broke my heart that I would have to do that to my four year old.
Apart from the extra money it would cost, it’s a long day for such a little boy.
and then on top of that what about when he’s sick?!
I had already been there for twelve years with my daughter Belle and I just didn’t want to struggle with it anymore.
It didn’t seem far.
I didn’t want to do it anymore.
I knew something had to change.
Thankfully I now get to choose my work schedule to fit my and my family’s needs.
I now get to take him to his school functions, be there for his school photos (and make sure his hair is done first!! haha) and be a present mummy...which is my WHY!
To be there for my kids.. that’s my biggest why.
This week reminded me again of how much I get to be the mum I always dreamt of being. My daughter Belle had eisteddfods in Mackay (a four hour round trip which would normally mean annual leave taken!) and my son had asthma which would normally be more annual leave. But this week? This week I got to still make money while being a Mum and doing all the things we got to do together.
I now get the BE THE MUM I always dreamt of being.
Mum’s, I want this for you too.
You don’t need to choose between a job and time with your family
You don’t need to choose between your sanity and providing for your household
You don’t need to choose between your income and your satisfaction as a mum
You get to have both. And I want that for you.
You can be it all, without sacrificing it all.
Jas xx