Welcome to Meet the Working Mum Interview. Today we meet Sam McCue. Sam works in the family business and also runs her blog Travelling with Our Kids
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.
I’m Sam, and live with my husband and 2 sons (6 and 2) just outside of Edinburgh. We also have 2 dogs and 3 rabbits.
What do you do for a job? Is it what you have always wanted to do?
I work for our family business. I do a range of jobs from answering emails, bookings, websites, social media, accounts…anything that needs doing I do it. It certainly isn’t the job I wanted to do growing up. However, it is an income and keeps a roof over our heads!
What was your motivation to return to work?
I didn’t really get a choice, my dad was struggling with the work load so I went back after just 10 days with each boy.
How many hours do you work a week?
40+ hours. If I havent got all my work done during the day, then I will work in the evenings too. It can be a massive stress trying to keep up with everything. I also have the blog to do in my spare time…which at the moment isn’t a lot!
Do you have to travel far from where you live to where you work?
No, its only a 10 minute drive. I work either from my parents house or I sometimes go into the office. I’m in the process of getting an office space in my own house, so I can work from here as well.
What do you do for childcare? Does this work for you?
When my eldest was a baby, he came with me to work everyday up until 15 months. I then put him with a childminder but that didnt work out so he came back to work with me again. My husbands mother also had him for a few hours twice a week, but that turned out a huge mistake as well. He is now in school and then comes to my parents house after school. My youngest was again with me full time until 15 months and now he is in day care 3 days a week. It works…but at the same time it can be a struggle. Especially during the school holidays when they are with me all day in the office and they want attention but I’m busy trying to work.
What does your morning routine look like? What do you do to get you all out of the house on time?
Everyone up and out of bed by 7am, down from breakfast. I then feed/clean rabbits, and sweep floors, then out the door by 8.30am. Everything like bags and clothes are set out the night before. This means I have less to do in the mornings and we dont have to rush as much. That being said we are sometimes late leaving because the boys wont get their shoes on or tidy up.
What do you like about being a working mum?
The independence of working and knowing im providing for my family.
What don’t you like about being a working mum?
The guilt. I always feel the boys aren’t getting enough attention especially during the school holidays when they should be out on days out. Instead they are stuck in the office with me.
What would you change? Hours you work, commute you have to make etc.
To not work. I would love not to work and just travel but that isn’t realistic just now. I’m hoping setting up an office in our own house will make things a little easier. Especially when kids are off school or off ill.
What three tips would you pass onto a mum about to start back at work?
Research childcare options well in advance. Don’t accept offers off the inlaws to keep them happy. For us it turned out to be a huge mistake and one that has caused family problems. Although thats a whole other story!
Your children will more than likely cry when you drop them off at nursery etc…they are totally fine when you leave. I’m sure they do it just to add that extra bit of guilt to you.
Make sure your work are flexible with the hours you wish to work. If you want to go back part time and not full time let your work know in advance so things can get sorted in time for your starting back.
For fun show us a picture of your work handbag.
I don’t have a work handbag! If I’m with the kids then my purse goes in their bag. When I go to my parents to work I have an Asda Tote Bag (ha!) with my lunch and stuff for the kids for when they finish school/daycare. I even bought myself a lovely handbag but its never used as its like moving house every time I leave with the amount of bags needed.
Thank you so much for taking part in the Meet the Mum interview series Sam. I totally agree about finding the the right childcare for you and your family. There are plenty of options, it’s just finding the one that fits you. I hope you get your home office sorted soon.
If you would like to visit Sam’s blog you can find it here. Sam can also be found on Twitter and Instagram.
If you would like to be featured in my Meet the Working Mum series send an email to:- organisedjo@outlook.com
Jo
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