Natalie's blog

'The mummy hat and the woman in business hat. Two hats, one head. Sometimes I opt for one over the other, not always making the right choice, and sometimes I try to wear both and one falls off, usually whilst I'm running to make the train so I can get back to read the next instalment of 'The reluctant princess' to my 8 year old, because I promised her I would and the guilt sets in if I don't get back to do it! Juggle, juggle, juggle. The working mums lot. It's probably what makes us so good at business, multi tasking is a key skill whichever hat you have on! I'm sure we've all had the occasion when you're on your phone to work whilst also trying to negotiate with a 2 year old about which shoes they should wear. 

So in amongst this hectic juggling world I inhabit this last week has been an interesting one, an oasis of calm, the hats not fighting. How can that be? Have I discovered the secret of pure harmony for the working mum. No, I'm afraid not. That formula would make me rich! No, quite simply it's because  I have been in between jobs. I've had a rare whole week with no work pressures, no blackberry to check with the work hat being well and truly in the cupboard. I've tried to make the most of the week by throwing myself into mummy duties as much as possible because I know that just around the corner is a new phase. A phase of entering full time work as oppose to part time work, a whole 5 days a week instead of 4. It's only a day. I know. People do it all the time. And do you know what, if I'm honest I've missed the juggle, it feels alien not to be doing it and to only have one hat to wear. So I face next week with excitement, trepidation but most of all intrigue. I know I am on the right path and I know that Daddy will be just fine being the 'stay at home Dad'. Won't he? With the lists, white board and menu planners I've done, what could go wrong?! There's just one small matter of breaking it to my 8 year old that the  'The Reluctant Princess' will be read over 'face time' for 3 days next week as I'll be in York, and even I draw the line at that commute, for the sake of the next instalment of Cimerone's adventures!' 

Natalie is team manager at a law firm; she has been a lawyer for 10 years and is a mother to two girls aged 8 and 2. Passionate about both and enjoying the juggle that doing both brings.