Meet the Working Mum Lucy Mackracken Momma Mack

Welcome to Meet the Working Mum Interview. Today we meet Lucy Mackcracken. Lucy works as a Human Resource Manager and also blog at Momma Mack.

If you have missed any of the previous interviews, or if you are new to this series, check out all the other Meet the Working Mum’s.

An intro and a little bit about you, your family and where you live.

Hello, my name is Lucy. I am 31, married with a 4 year old, Emelia (who turns 5 in a few weeks). I live in Halesowen, which is about 6 miles outside of Birmingham. I work at West Midlands Ambulance Service as a Human Resources Manager.

What do you do for a job? Is it what you have always wanted to do?

I’m a HR Manager for West Midlands Ambulance Service. I manage a team of 4 staff and we work with managers to support staff throughout their employment with the organisation. That may be at recruitment stages, when there are sickness absences issues or staff needing support for flexible working. My job is really varied and every day is different which keeps me on my toes with new challenges.

When I left University, I started on a PGCE course to become a primary school teacher. A few months into the course I realised that it wasn’t for me and the idea of standing in front of a classroom filled me with dread. I left the course but had already got a mortgage by this point and needed to get another job straight away. I joined a temping agency and began working as a team secretary for a local NHS commissioning organisation. Whilst there I learnt about the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, applied and was successful. My training programme specialised in human resources and was a 2 year fast track programme which provided me with education and a variety of placements to work in. So that’s how I fell into my career 🙂

What was your motivation to return to work?

My motivation comes on multiple levels. Finances is one driver to ensure that I can afford to provide for my family. I think that its important that my daughter sees me going to work and understands that if we want to go on holidays and have nice things, that she understands it takes hard work to earn those things. I have worked hard to build my career and I love my job, not returning to work was never an option for me. I need to work to be challenged intellectually and to do something for me as Lucy rather than a mummy or a wife.

How many hours do you work a week?

Full time, I have been fortunate in being supported through a number of flexible working options. I currently work a 9 day fortnight and have every other Friday off. I have autonomy over my working hours and can flex work around home commitments where needed.

Do you have to travel far from where you live to where you work?

My office is a 15 minute drive from home however the area that I cover is geographically spread throughout the whole of the West Midlands. My role involves regional and national travel at times.

If you use public transport what do you do to pass the time on your commute?

I have a company car, but like to listen to the radio or Spotify on my journeys. I also use longer commutes to catch up with colleagues and managers I support on the hands free kit.

What do you do for childcare? Does this work for you?

I am very lucky that I have been supported by my mom and mother in law who have provided the main bulk of childcare for Emelia. She also went to a private nursery for 1 day a week as we felt that it was important that she had experience of interactions with other children and learnt how to share and get along with others. Now she is at school age, she will go to breakfast club before school and my mum will collect her from school until I finish work. I will be changing to work a shorter day on a Friday so that I can take her and collect her from school myself at least one day a week.

What does your morning routine look like? What do you do to get you all out of the house on time?

It normally starts with my lovely husband bringing me a cup of tea, to try to persuade me to get out of bed. He is able to get out of bed straight away where as I am a snoozer. Emelia is somewhere in between both of us depending on her mood on the day. We make sure that lunches are made the evening before and any bags packed with any special items that are needed for school.

What do you like about being a working mum?

Knowing that I can earn money to provide good experiences for my daughter, we can enjoy days out, eating out together and holidays. I love that a get a balance between the intellectual challenge of being at work and the fun of coming home and playing a game or reading bedtime stories.

What don’t you like about being a working mum?

Always feeling like I am missing out on something. I try my best to make sure I can attend all school commitments but it often takes planning and organising. Last year I was unable to attend Emelia’s nursery nativity as I was delivering a presentation in London. I felt incredibly torn and upset that I had to choose between the two. My Husband went to see the show, along with my parents and took lots of video and photos. I felt like I had my own private showing on the evening watching the clips and Emelia performed her favourite songs for me.

What would you change? Hours you work, commute you have to make etc.

Some of the distances I travel are difficult, in that the driving is tiring and I often feel worried about getting stuck on the motorway and not being able to get back in time to collect Emelia or put her to bed. It doesn’t happen often but I hate coming home from work after she has gone to bed.

What three tips would you pass onto a mum about to start back at work?

Be organised and plan ahead, things like making lunches, PE kits and do homework tasks with little ones as soon as you get them, otherwise I forget about them.

If you have to work in the week, plan fun times together as a family to make the most of the time you are all there and have something to look forward to.

If you are able to, take some personal items with you to work. I have a special mug that Emelia made for me and lots of photos on my desk, when I’m having a bad day looking at them remind me why I work hard.

For fun show us a picture of your work handbag.

Kate Spade – it’s pretty worky i’m afraid, Emelia loves to pull out my lipsticks and steal my pens to draw with though.

Thank you so much for taking part in the Meet the Mum interview series Lucy. I totally agree with you about showing your daughter why you work, you are a great role model.

If you would like to visit Lucy’s blog Momma Mack you can find it here. Lucy can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you would like to be featured in my Meet the Working Mum series send an email to:- organisedjo@outlook.com

Meet the Working Mum – Lucy Mackcracken- Momma Mack