I am a freelancer. Last year, I took a big leap and quit my part-time role at one of Sydney's best PR agencies to do my own thing. Travelling to Sydney and working four days (and nights) became too much for me. I was in trouble, on the brink (or maybe already in it) of a breakdown. I thought freelancing would fit my lifestyle as a working mum way better.
Nine months in and I can safely say it has. For the most part, my life is in a better place. It has allowed me to prioritise what is important to me and see the forest for the trees. I'm much happier, I get to walk my son to school every day and pick him up most days. If I'm feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, I can take the afternoon off to do life admin or have some downtime and work again when the bubs go to sleep.
I don't think that I have sacrificed my career, but it has led me down a completely different path. As parents, we'll always have to sacrifice some aspect of our lives.
I quickly realised that I had to cancel my physiotherapy/pilates sessions because it simply didn't fit in between the late school drop-offs and trying to fit in a full day's work. I am constantly going back and forth about whether or not to really lean into my business and recruit more clients, upping day/after-school care. I've also wanted to join a ceramics class to fuel my creative side, but the timings have just never worked out. It's either during the 'dinner, bath, bed' routine or too late – with 5am rises in my household, I'm often asleep or at least in bed shortly after the kids.
But my time will come.
Soon, my kids won't need me as much anymore. They won't want me to walk them to school, read them a story before bed or show me their latest drawing.
So for now, I'll sit back and be mindful and kind to the stage my life is in. I've always had a life plan in mind. But for now, there is no plan. The plan is survival and I simply go with what feels right.