Celebrating the Working Mum
Celebrating the Working Mum
Motherhood is a full-time job in itself, yet so many incredible women take on the challenge of balancing their careers or businesses alongside raising a family. As recruiters, we see firsthand the dedication and resilience of working mums, and so to celebrate and show our appreciation for working mums this Mother’s Day, we wanted to share some experiences and advice from members of the Dovetail team. Both Suzi, our Sales and Marketing Director, and Maria, our Recruitment Business Partner have successfully navigated the demands of running a business and being full-time mums. We’ve asked about the day-to-day experiences, the challenges, and the joy that comes alongside this.
The Balancing Act
Maria described her typical day as “a balancing act! It’s all about organisation and planning ahead! It starts early getting the little ones fed and ready for school, while mentally knowing your workday was planned the day before! It’s all about time management. Once the children are at school, it’s switching into business mode, working to deadlines – priorities and managing expectations, quite often working outside office hours, cooking evening meals or doing the school runs at the same time as answering calls and emails, with the ability to deal with a grazed knee at the same time as taking a new brief from a hiring manager!”
Suzi echoes this sentiment, sharing how important it is to stay organised, especially with twin daughters who have a packed schedule of football, dance, piano, singing, Cubs, and cricket in the summer. She says, “An organised approach the day before, an early start to cook a meal so we can all be fed at a reasonable time. I am lucky to have my Mum and my Mother-in-Law supporting us on a couple of days with the school routine. The girls are at the age now where they have lots of clubs. These opportunities are amazing for kids to learn individual and team sports and be creative.”
Overcoming Challenges
Both Maria and Suzi acknowledge that there are definitely some hurdles that come with being a working mum. When we asked if there was a particularly tough time or challenge that comes to mind, Suzi recalled the difficulties of Covid-19 Lockdown.
“Running after 4-year-old twins while taking on a new business and navigating that in the most bizarre times. I am lucky to have the most supportive Business Partner and where the day could start at 6.00 am, and finish at midnight. Homeschooling and work juggle were all in-between. Us working parents were all in the same boat though, and there was definitely that team morale and understanding out there.”
For Maria, the biggest challenge is trying to find time for herself in amongst all the other tasks of the day. To do your best at both of these important roles, you need time to relax and take the weight off of your shoulders. It’s crucial to take breaks and still find some time to do things you want to do.
The Guilt Factor
“Mum guilt” is something that nearly every working mother experiences at some point. Maria admits, “YES! Making up for that quality time with the children at the weekends and never missing a good night story!” Suzi acknowledges that there have been times she’s had to miss special moments, but she firmly believes in advocating for working mums. “We can’t be in two places at once. It is really hard finding that balance and there have been occasions I have missed. Even though I am a business owner, I see myself very much part of the team and very hands-on, but I am fortunate to have some flexibility. I will always fly that working Mum flag, and we are seeing more and more employers who are offering a work-life balance and flexibility, so we can be hands-on parents as well as providing for our family financially.”
Advice for Other Mums
Maria’s advice to mums considering returning to work or starting a business? “Make sure you always plan ahead, find a good routine, try to fit in some exercise (even if it means going for an early morning run at 7 am), and try to incorporate some YOU time even if it’s a few hours a week, to do something you want to do!” Suzi’s advice? “For me, it would probably be being organised and planning ahead, that way we have the head space, should anything change last minute?!”
The Most Rewarding Part
For both Suzi and Maria, the rewards of working while raising a family far outweigh the challenges. Maria appreciates the flexibility that running a business gave her, allowing her to be present for her son while still building something meaningful. “Running a business allows you to set your own schedule (even if it’s a hectic one!), so you don’t have to miss out on important moments like school events, milestones, or simply being there when your family needs you. There’s also a sense of pride in showing your children the value of hard work, resilience, and pursuing something you’re passionate about. It’s challenging but knowing you’re creating a future for both your business and your family makes it all worthwhile.”
Suzi finds joy in sharing successes with her team and family. “Sharing success as a team and with our families, showing our children it is possible to have a nice balance and we are able to have a career and be self-sufficient whilst also being a supportive Mum. Educating our children about work ethic and respect and showing our children that working pays for our treats and holidays.”
How Do Your Kids Describe What You Do
Maria’s son, Teo, has picked up so much from her work that he “knows exactly what I do and from listening to me over the years, he now coaches many of his friends with their CVs and applications for jobs.” Meanwhile, Suzi’s daughters describe her job as “helping other people find their dream job and where they are happy each day!”
The Perfect Mother’s Day
For Maria, an ideal Mother’s Day would be spent with her son Teo, ideally on a boat with their dog, Millie, just enjoying each other’s company and the views. For Suzi, it’s all about quality time with her daughters, enjoying the outdoors. As she beautifully puts it, “They are my gifts every day, and I don’t need anything for it.”
A Tribute to All Working Mums
To all the working mums out there – whether you’re running a business, climbing the corporate ladder, or simply doing your best each day – you are incredible. Your dedication, resilience, and ability to juggle it all is nothing short of inspiring. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate you and everything you do. We also want to wish the best to our Finance and Operations Director, Laura, who is soon to be a mum, hopefully Suzi and Maria’s words of wisdom will get you off to a good start.
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us!
Dovetail Recruitment are an independent Recruitment Agency in Bournemouth. Follow us to keep up to date with The South’s Job Market Report, Recruitment in Hampshire & Dorset + HR news, as well as our latest jobs, career tips + everything else related to your working world.
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