Diane: The Mummy Returns

Diane worked in the wealth management business for 15+ years and took some time off to raise her kid. As a mummy, she returns to work. I catch up with her and talk about time off, motherhood, and the challenges of returning to work.

Diane, congrats on becoming a mummy and good to connect with you again. What is new and exciting with you?

Hi Jerry, it’s been a while.  Nice to connect with you again. 2019 is proving to be a year of change.

After being a stay at home mummy for 4yrs and my child having started school in September, I was torn on what I wanted to do with my life.  Did I want to return to work?  Did I want a career change?  Was I ready for full-time work again? All I knew was that I needed further brain activity for my own personal satisfaction, regardless of the form in which I could get that.

It so happened that in the new year, I went back to work on a whim, filling in last minute for 8 days – this was going to be a great test, it would tell me if I really wanted to be back in the workforce.  Well, within the first 3 days, I was offered 3 job opportunities.  If that’s not a sign, then I don’t know what is!

How was the time off for work?

Simply put, Amazing! I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home to raise my daughter and I wanted to make sure I took full advantage, knowing full well these years would be precious & gone too quickly. So, I did, I embraced it and went on many adventures.  Nothing to regret, only a million beautiful memories that I will forever cherish.

Let’s talk about marriage. What have you learned from it?

We all have our own journeys and meet at different stages of life. Andrew definitely came into my life not only when I needed him, but when I can honestly say I could appreciate him.  He has taught me many things; love, compromise, trust, perspective, self-worth, and balance.  We balance each other well; I keep him on his toes and he keeps me grounded LOL.

It sounds so cliché, but I often refer to him as my better half…. Not because he is ‘better’ than I, but because he has helped me be my best self.

How has motherhood changed you? What are you learning from it?

Motherhood has given back in so many ways.  I have learned what unconditional love truly is & how to love deeply with all your heart and soul.  We all experience love in various forms and know what unconditional love is, but being a parent puts you on the other side of the equation.  It is pretty powerful & amazing.

Also, Watching the world evolve, and discovering everything again through the eyes of a child is pretty spectacular. From their joy and pleasure of feeling sand in their toes, the sight of a vibrant flower blooming from a bud to being able to ride their first tricycle, spelling their own names. All of this has taught me to reconnect and experience/appreciate all the wonders of life whenever possible, even the simplest of things.  Life is too precious, embrace what you have, and enjoy whenever possible.

What have been some of the challenges returning to work?

The biggest challenge has been time management.  I want to still be able to do all that I did before I began working and not jeopardize the time I have with my child.  Someday, it seems impossible.  Those days are when I have to prioritize.  Our daily routine has changed a little, but our priorities have not – at the end of the day Mom or Dad will still do homework with her, we have dinner as a family, and bedtime has been extended to being a bit later, but still a family affair.   Returning to work has given me a better balance to life and hopefully will allow my child the privilege of having a good female figure, in her life as well.

How are balancing food, faith, finance, and family?

Am I truly balancing it all?  As best as I can, I guess. I believe this is where you need a village to raise a child. Someday we have take-out so that the day/evening runs smoother.  Other days, I enlist the help of either Grandmothers… They’re great at keeping faith and traditions alive.  There’s no foolproof equation to this, certain seasons like Christmas you may be ranking top in the family & faith column when on regular days/weeks/months, you may be more focused on food and finance.

It’s a balancing act and I believe as long as the exposure to all columns/aspects of a healthy life is there on a regular basis, you’re doing fairly well.