I feel sad today… A Brexit inspired keep-your-head-up post
Brexit / Politics Disclaimer: *This politically inspired post is part of my processing of the evolution of Brexit today, from my perspective, embracing my feelings. These are not alternative facts or facts facts and are not meant to put anyone down or start a debate.* So here goes… I have to admit, since mid 2016 when I binged on news at the time of the UK referendum vote (now known as Brexit), I have tried (often unsuccessfully) to have a news detox… Head in the sand ostrich stylee. (Yes, one of the unsuccessful times was around the US election period – *shudder*) I am viewing democracy respectfully and I’m not going to go down the political rabbit hole which, I have to admit, stresses me out and upsets me right now – but I want to take a moment to step into my feelings. At the time of writing this today, I’m sitting on the tube on my work commute and looking up at headlines about “our PM” triggering Britain’s exit from the EU. And I’m exhaling. And actually making an effort to hold back a tear. And repressing the anger that I feel bubbling away at the outcome of what I perceive to be a knee-jerk “vote for me” inspired referendum. I’m inhaling and exhaling through my belief that my daughter now exists in a world where fear fuels divisive decisions and her mamas #achievemoretogether mantra is the opposite of what is being executed. I don’t say any of this to get into a political discussion or debate (trust me, I’m a busy working mama with zero bandwidth for... read more
How to befriend mum-guilt (and why you should)
When was the last time you experienced the oh so dreaded but oh so common “mum-guilt”? (Papas in the house – please note that this subject is not meant to exclude you. Like International Women’s Day the hope is that good men among us will embrace and understand it so I’m speaking to you too. You’re welcome to feel the feels but this is such a common experience for mums that I need to truly speak to it as mum-guilt as opposed to parent-guilt). The “Mum-Guilt” series starts here I’ve been aware of the phenomenon that is “mum guilt” for a long time, even before becoming a mama for the first time in 2016. You know that feeling I mean. It’s that heart wrenching “I’m not good enough” feeling you get – often in relation to what you have done (or didn’t do!). Mum-guilt knows no bounds. It runs the full spectrum and below are just a few examples: I didn’t make that costume for lo (little one). I bet other mums made theirs from scratch I forgot the extra blanket for baba at home, and it’s cold, really cold, what kind of mother forgets something like that? I’d love to get to the gym / nail salon / theatre / football match – but feel bad about leaving lo to go do something fun for me I want to introduce a bottle feed before 6 months old but everyone says breastfeeding is better I don’t know how much milk lo is getting when I breastfeed. Should I top up with formula just in case? Lo is not sleeping well…... read more
A whistlestop summary of my new podcast
Celebrating 10 episodes of Creative Career Solutions for Parents Working parents of the Creative Career Solutions for Parents community and beyond… I am beyond excited to celebrate the fact that my new podcast, the podcast that I dreamed of starting two years ago… is not only here but within a month there are now 10 episodes for your listening pleasure. That’s right – 10. There would have been more too had I not been poorly recently and lost my voice. I’ll be back on track imminently though but in the meanwhile, please don’t be shy about digging in, listening and participating. Here’s a run down of the first 10 episodes: Episode 1: An Introduction to Creative Career Solutions for Parents Episode 2: 5 reasons why I started this podcast Episode 3: Why is your career and / or professional life important to you? Episode 4: My feelings on my last day of maternity leave Episode 5: Rambling thoughts on returning to work after maternity leave Episode 6: Why I cried on my way into work Episode 7: What are your career and lifestyle goals for 2017? Episode 8: How to choose your ‘inspirational word’ for 2017 Episode 9: Productivity, planning and sanity tips for half term Episode 10: Love trumps hate – Easy ways to share the love today Please feel free to dip in and out as you wish however listening to episode 1 and 2 before any of the others is highly recommended, for context. I’ve received some lovely feedback so far and every episode is created with a lot of love and in the spirit... read more
Am I an #epicfail as a working parent?
Over the weekend I reflected on how my first couple of weeks back at work have been. I am thrilled (and somewhat relieved) that there have been significantly more ups than downs. Overall, getting back into the swing of things as a working parent has been positive so far… and I am reconnecting with aspects of my work that I do love. I feel inspired. I have all kinds of ideas. I am making a positive contribution to my working life again. That said, I recently cried on my way into work. Yup. Cried. Shed tears. Genuinely… felt quite sh*tty. Why you say? Why when by all accounts I am reporting a positive reintegration back into work so far? Simple really. I got a little bit teary because on Friday, on Naila’s first birthday, after some of our very early morning cuddles, I snuck out of the house when she woke up far earlier than she needed to. Y’see, it was too late for me to continue the cuddles (as I had to go if I was going to get to work on time) and too early for her to get up with her dad and get ready for the childminder. What that meant was that I quickly exited so she didn’t spot me… and it was just at that moment that I heard R quietly singing “Happy Birthday” to her. Cue waterworks as I left the house. Mummy / working parent guilt alert. Does this make me a bad mama? Is it wrong to admit I felt a touch resentful of my hubby in... read more
Returning to work after maternity leave
Monday 23 January 2017 was life altering for me. Genuinely life (as it has been recently) altering. Why? Well, after just under a year of being on maternity leave from my employed work – I went back this week. Whoa. Considering that I am coming up to 15 years in the work place (post-education… with some years part time before that), it’s incredible how “big” this moment feels. It genuinely feels momentous and that tells me so much. It tells me that this one year in my life, the year in which I had and spent full time with my daughter, in our bubble at times, my world changed so significantly that even for this career-loving (recovering workaholic) gal, going back to what was always my normal feels completely alien. In returning to work after maternity leave, do / did you relate to this? Now I know that this unfamiliar feeling is temporary. Getting up early and commuting to work feels strange at the moment. (Well half does. New mamas, you’ll know early mornings are probably the norm – it’s just the leaving the house for the incredibly early commute that’s different!) I am sure that I’ll get back into my stride incredibly quickly and my old normal will become my new normal… or will it? To be honest… I don’t want my old normal, as it was, to creep back in. I don’t. Yes I loved it pre mamahood. I loved my employed work (part of which involves working with teenagers in a secondary school), I loved my self employed Limitless Coaching day one weekday a... read more
Introducing Creative Career Solutions for Parents
When was the last time you felt ridiculously, mind-bogglingly, can’t sleep at night, jump-out-of-bed-in-the-morning passionate about your work? Be it your employed work or your business. I have to say… I’m kind of experiencing that at the moment. Because I have an idea… an idea that I am in the process of executing and I believe that if I connect with the right people, people like you – I will be using my talents, skills and qualifications in a way that will vastly improve the lives of hundreds. Hey… thousands if I really go for it. And if you’re a parent… my new career coaching focus of “creative career solutions for parents” has the potential to greatly improve what you’re up to as well (in a fun, non-pressured way!). Isn’t that amazing? I really am excited about this but before I get carried away, let me give you some context (or at least develop it for anyone who was along for the ride as this idea was beginning to evolve in this blog post I shared in spring/summer 2016). Last year, in 2016, my life changed. Massively. Incomprehensively. Undeniably. I became a parent for the first time. Holy c*** – that can really change a person. No? C’mon… if you’ve been there, you are in on the ‘secret’ about how one little person can change your trajectory so immeasurably. Within the space of 3 days (my little one arrived early – just after my maternity leave started!), I went from being a workaholic in employed work which I loved (most of the time) 4 days... read more
Good riddance 2016… (or thank you for the lessons)
Well it has been a helluva year hasn’t it?! Are you on the “Good riddance 2016” train?! What a ride. Social media tells me that the want to obliterate 2016 is a common one! I have to say, while I have so so soooo much to be grateful for this year due to the safe arrival of my daughter Naila (making 2016 one of the greatest in my life) – I am also tuned into some reasons why many are happy to see the back of it. For me it’s not especially because of the impressive line up of celebrity and legend deaths this year (so sad… thanks all for the music, entertainment and joy) but instead the crazy emotional vortex I got stuck in this year was a political one. Between the Brexit vote in the UK (Ugh… proud member of the 48% here) and the DT one in the US (still can’t quite bring myself to type the name – much less refer to President or President Elect) – it’s been an emotional one. In all transparency, in addition to my moments of sheer delight (and exhaustion!) being a new mummy, I have spent some of this year in deep mourning, questioning all I thought I knew socially and culturally and wondering how the hell we seem to have moved back 60+ years and so much of the world seems to be ok with it. However, before sweeping 2016 aside and tripping over ourselves to hastily usher in a new year, I felt compelled to take a closer look. I know I had times of... read more
Does becoming a parent mean the death of your career?
Finding career solutions for parents As a career coach, I have had the pleasure of having a front row view of the dreams and goals of many. From students, newlyweds, first jobbers, promotion seekers, career changers to budding entrepreneurs and more, it continues to be my honour to help people achieve clarity and success in their career goals. Oh… and much faster than they’d be able to do in isolation. Since becoming a mum earlier this year however, I have been fascinated by how much changes when you become a parent. I mean really changes. Sometimes unrecognisably. Priorities, purpose, perspective – to name just a few. If you’re a parent, I imagine you’ll agree that things you always knew about yourself and your professional ambitions may have altered in unexpected ways since your little one/s entered your world. It’s with that in mind that I have embraced a new purpose of my own – career solutions for parents. I.e. to take those same career coaching skills I have used for years and apply them specifically to parents. Apply the power of coaching to support mums and dads who recognise the importance that careers play in the lifestyle they want for their families – but don’t always know how to approach their professional lives which now need to be balanced with their greatest blessings… Their child/ren. (Balanced in different ways, as appropriate to each family unit) So… In the words of Jerry Maguire, “help me help you” (please!) If you are a parent, you would be a HUGE help with this mission if you would spend a few of your precious minutes to respond to this quick survey.... read more
One for parents with big career ambitions!
All has been quiet here on the western (well… the Limitless Coaching) front, especially since I took on my most important role to date… mummy to my now 16 week old (first) child. Life has since been a whirlwind and I think is fair to say “unrecognisable” and it prompted me to open up to my email subscribers about the experience to date and what it means in terms of my coaching offering… which is why this post may be of particular interest to parents with big career ambitions. I don’t think I could say it better or with more ‘realness’ than how I shared it with my subscribers so I’m reproducing the email below and inviting you to sign up to the new list if you’re also a parent with big career ambitions! ———– When you’re wrong you’re wrong (and I’ll admit it… I was!) When was the last time you came to the conclusion that you’d gotten something completely wrong? (and admitted it!). Mine has been recently as you can probably tell… and I’m laughing at myself as a result. You may have noticed that I haven’t popped into your inbox as much as I normally like to. Yes, your “regular” dose of kick **** actionable, motivational career and lifestyle content has been, well, irregular! If you’re a long-standing member of this community, you can probably guess why. Yes… that’s right. Becoming a mummy for the first time recently (back in February) has been so all encompassing and challenging (not to mention joyous and life changing) that I haven’t had a lot of laptop time, planning time,... read more
Reflection on 2015: End the year on a high
As we race towards the finish line of 2015, I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to encourage you to end the year on a high… with a reflection of 2015… not just racing into the crazy momentum and making New Years resolutions for the next! I’m not sure how it was for you but 2015 was another one of those years that flew by… almost in a “blink and you’ll miss it” kind of way. If it went at a similar pace for you, it’s even more essential that you take some time to reflect on the year that’s ending and here’s an easy process to do so: Step 1: Stop, slow down, take a few deep breaths exactly where you are… Wherever you are reading this post. Let’s start with 3 deep breaths… ideally with your eyes closed if you’re in a safe space. *Inhale*…. *Exhale*… *Inhale*… *Exhale… and *Inhale*… *Exhale*… Step 2: Think back on the last 12 months and ask yourself these 5 questions in turn… taking the time to reflect and answer each of them (and I’d recommend physically writing down your thoughts): What were my wins in 2015? We’re starting with one of the juiciest and most important things to reflect on today and in the next few days. What were your wins? Please consider the BIG and the SMALL things… they are all important. These will be incredibly important to you but things that may come to mind could include: Deciding to look for a new role, starting a new job or getting a promotion Making the... read more
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