marieclaire.com.au (^) | 91
CAREER
“If you’re an integral part of your own business,
maternity leave is basically impossible. We were
moving back to Sydney from England when we had
our eldest daughter, Charlie, so it was a bit stop-start.
But with Willow, I came back to work at 11 weeks,
and nine weeks after Harper was born. At times I felt
like I was missing out, but I’ve had to find the balance
between being a great mum and businesswoman.
We don’t have grandparents in Sydney, so the
responsibility of juggling a new baby meant we would
go everywhere together, including work. You could
say Willow and Harper grew up in the studio. They
had their own cot and I managed my clients and
classes around them. A few times I have totally lost
the plot, but mostly I like to think I have had it under
control. I figured out a routine that worked for me.
I would do two hours of emails every night from two
until four in the morning. This was usually when my
babies would feed and because I was already awake I
would get loads of admin work done before having a
power nap and finally starting the day. I am lucky I
can survive on very little sleep. I always get organised
for my day ahead the night before, laying clothes out
for both my girls and me, packing bags, etc.
My life now with three children is definitely
busier and crazier, and I have had to learn to
relax and go with the flow a little more.”
KIRSTEN KING
Founder of Fluidform Pilates,
mum of three
FATMA ELZEIN
Founder of Mummies Paying It Forward,
mum of four
“Prior to launching Mummies Paying It Forward
[in 2014], life consisted of the organised chaos
that comes with raising four young children and
working part-time as a paediatric nurse. It was
a juggle, especially after the twins came along.
Going from one child to two, as most mums
would understand, was challenging. But going
from two children to four was a show stopper. As
the children got a little older, returning to work
as a paediatric nurse was very important to me.
I founded Mummies Paying It Forward to
support vulnerable people in society by providing pre-
loved and new everyday household items to dedicated
not-for-profit charities in NSW. We have helped
families in need, refugees, the homeless and more.
Most days feel like a race to try to fit it all in,
but for me it’s about recognising what’s important
and prioritising what needs to be done each day.
I often have my phone on silent when the kids are
around, so I don’t get distracted. Once they’re in
bed, that’s when I can focus on what else I have to do.
It’s incredibly important to focus on myself. I’ve
learnt to make time for me each day, and that comes
in the form of reading. My Kindle is my most beloved
possession and having that time, even if it’s just
15 minutes, is a great way to tune out from life.”
With three kids, two successful careers and 11
books between them, Samantha Brett and Steph
Adams know “the juggle” well. In their new book,
the pair interviewed high-profile mums including
Megan Gale, Teresa Palmer and Natalie Barr about
work, life and “mum guilt”. The result is The
Juggle: Inspirational Stories From Mums Juggling
It All (Penguin Random House, $39.99). Out now.
marty
(Marty)
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