Work / life Archives - A Baby on Board blog

Shhh! The secrets of the nursery day…

Gillian — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 05:00:07 +0000

Just want to start out by saying I love my amazing children more than life itself, but sometimes having a break is great, isn’t it? Motherhood can be ever-so-slightly full-on when you’re ‘on’ from the crack of dawn – and throughout most of the night – and during the waking hours you’re everything, from a human climbing frame to a moral compass and a literal sounding board, but mainly a moving surface for stickers, all at full speed…it can be on the tiring side. Even when I sneak off for a few seconds one of my mini Columbos will follow saying ‘Wait a minute mummy…is that chocolate?’ Foiled, again. But if you’d told me a few years ago that working would feel like a break, I’d never have believed you. Did you ever see that episode of Sex and the City where Carrie talks about her secret single behaviour? Where she indulges in all the things she loves doing but could never do in a relationship? That’s kind of how I feel about my work / nursery days. Where, despite multi-tasking like a maniac to get the mother of all work to-do lists crammed into my minimal childcare hours, it’s also both weirdly relaxing and a chance to indulge in my secret nursery day behaviour. Don’t tell anyone. but when it’s just me around I like to: Drink tea, while it’s hot. This is pretty much a mum-given, but I sometimes go really crazy and drink about two cups in one go. Constantly, throughout the day Eat a snack in full sight and not have to share it, and only feel slightly guilty about it (only slightly) Eat things that aren’t nutritionally balanced, at the completely incorrect time (popcorn for my second breakfast? Why not?) Listen to the silence… Listen to some music that’s not the Muppets soundtrack or anything Disney. My own music, what a concept! But the weird thing is I’ve completely forgotten what music I like. So when faced with Spotify I draw a blank and start reaching towards the Frozen Fever folder. Thank goodness for playlists, fodder for the permanently indecisive since online streaming began Take a really long shower that’s set to ‘scalding’, with no bath toys for company Have a conversation with anyone with absolutely zero risk of having one or both of my boobs being exposed. Inevitably, I also find myself texting my husband saying ‘ oh, I miss the guys!’ Wondering what they’re doing. Looking at photos of them. And racing to nursery to pick them up. What secret things do you do on those rare mum-break moments? *** Nominations in the MAD Blogging awards close in the next few days, and if you’ve not nominated I’d love one in the best pre-school blog category…and will stop mentioning it shortly, honestly! You can find the form here x *** More posts…inevitable truths about newborns, things they don’t tell you in NCT and how my mobile makes me a much better mum

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All you need is…the weekend

Gillian — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 12:22:53 +0000

So. Glad. It’s. The. Weekend. Anyone had a tricky week? I posted this on Instagram earlier but it seemed kind of apt (I do think it’s kind of important to remind yourself that when you’ve had a tough few days and are beyond tired are feeling like you’re last on the list for the Mother of the Year award, but you’re probably doing a better job than you think). Mini round-up of things from the week: I’m on Belly Belly site with some pregnancy survival tips and also on the Argos website giving some tips for train travel with young children when you don’t have a car. A new thing I’m working on for TalkMum is the Night Feed Nine, which is a round-up of the best videos, articles and blog posts to read when you’re up on the nightfeed (I used to run out of things to read so often). This week there’s a love theme (and you can also watch Charlotte’s latest video) Recent posts…what other mothers *never* tell you about two children…going outside the lines (love that poster) and the return of the toddler. Sure there’s lots of other things I can’t remember! Have a lovely weekend (see what I did there).

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Everything I’d rather do than my tax return

Gillian — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 12:48:08 +0000

One of the best decisions I made after having a baby – in fact, ever, I think – was to go freelance instead of returning to my pre-baby, 9-5 (8.30-7) job. It’s made my post-baby work / life balance better in ways I could never have imagined, and has allowed me to do things I love as well as branch out into new and different areas. But the small downside to all this is having to do your own tax return. I have to admit that it sounds terrifying, but isn’t, actually, that taxing – just very admin-heavy – but the deadline is fast approaching, and guess what? I’m procrastinating. I know, I know, you can pay people to do it for you, and I know I could have done it at any point over the past nine months, and I know it’s very last minute, and arhhh. In my – very poor – defence, I started it weeks ago, and have basically sorted all the sums out – I just need to double check and do it, especially as today is one of my rare childcare days. But I’m not. What are all the things I’d rather do instead? Make ten cups of tea and eat half the tin of biscuits Paint my toenails Unload the dishwasher Load the dishwasher Washing, again Contemplate overhauling my skincare regime and wondering if buying some expensive skincare means I really will double cleanse every day Start tidying out the loft, aka our version of Monica’s messy closet, ahead of our loft conversion Take ridiculous photos for Instagram Anything involving Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc etc. Contemplate what to have for lunch Contemplate what we’re having for dinner Contemplate emptying out the rain-filled paddling pool of doom More tea Wonder about 50 x times what the children are doing Write a blog post about not doing my tax return, in lieu of not writing any other blog posts this week because I shouldn’t until I’ve actually done the thing, to explain why I’ve not written any posts this week Remember to tell my children to do things as soon as possible, instead of putting them off to the last minute Anything. The thing is, it’s not that bad and once it’s done I’ll be so relieved, and smug. so why am I not? Right, I’m going in. But first…I could totally make a tax-themed playlist on Spotify couldn’t I? More posts, if you’re also putting off doing something important…things they don’t tell you in NCT classes but TOTALLY should, inspiring ideas over on TalkMum, and things to do during naptime.

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Five signs maternity leave is over

Gillian — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 13:48:37 +0000

1) I’m on cup of tea number three that I made and drank while *still hot.* Just for the novelty factor, of course, not because everyone in my house was up all night coughing and I need all the caffeine… 2) This morning I ate a piece of toast and didn’t have to share it. I’m going to have some chocolate biscuits shortly, in plain sight, with absolutely no hiding behind the fridge door 3) The house was eerily quiet until I put on a Spotify playlist (that didn’t include a) Let it Go b) any Disney songs c) Star Wars music) 4) My boobs feel like they might explode shortly 5) I miss my baby! It’s all change in our household today, as our littlest family member and random selfie-taker starts nursery and I’m starting work again editing TalkMum. Maternity leave is incredibly different second-time-round, isn’t it? And my circumstances are very different this time (as freelance I work from home and it’s only two nursery days a week) but even so I feel a million different things about everything at the moment, from the inevitable nursery guilt and rising mum-anxiety through to looking forward to concentrating on something for longer than thirty seconds. (If anyone’s ever interested in writing anything for TalkMum then just let me know). But first, tea, anyone? x

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Autumnal reds and nursery blues

Gillian — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 05:00:04 +0000

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness? Although I love the idea of autumn, in practice it’s never quite as nice as you were expecting. Less warm cosy woollens and more cold and damp coats. Leaves on the line rather than crunching through them underfoot. But the past couple of days have been glorious. Blue skies framed with a tiny hint of frost, no coats at all and proper park weather. This is the type of seasonal change I can happily get on board with. And dry my washing in *cough*. Although the big school start for us is next year, this year Eliza went up to the pre-school room at nursery, head-first and happily excited, coming home full of confidence and chat at what she’s learned that day and a million pictures she’s drawn. And her sister? This time last year I was two weeks away from giving birth. And now… This week we went to her first settling in session at nursery. While I’m excited about work and it’s only two days, nursery is the big wrench for my littlest baby and it seems like it’s come round so quickly. Although I hope and hope and hope she won’t, I know she’ll really hate it at first because she’s so attached and exactly the same as Eliza was. I look back at that time and look at Eliza now and know now it’ll be fine quickly, it’s just….hard. “So what else does Florence like?” they asked me. How do you encapsulate your child, 11 and a half months of pure flesh and love, down to a few sentences? She is more, like every child, than the sum of her nap time schedule. She’s the second sun I orbit around, half of each beat of my heart. She’s the shiniest conker that’s just fallen from the tree. And so little; while we amble warmly into winter, she’s still the earliest of spring. More posts…32 things you’ll obsess about in baby’s first year, baby milestone cards for mums and great things about being the second baby.

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In the (baby change) bag: the Pacapod Sydney

Gillian — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:51:24 +0000

Are you looking for a baby change bag that isn’t anything like a traditional change bag; one that looks like a bag you’d actually want to use in non-baby life? I think I’ve found it in the seriously stylish Pacapod Sydney bag. We were already big fans of Pacapod as we bought the Napier bag pre-Eliza on the recommendation of a friend, and still use it now. I was sent the newer Pacapod Sydney bag to review after Florence was born. Not meaning to spoil anything upfront, but it’s brilliant. So what’s great about the Pacapod Sydney? The style: The bag does not look like a typical change bag. It looks great; it’s made of grey leather, and it’s the kind of leather that’s going to look even better when it’s slightly battered. You could easily use it as a normal bag when minus children, without looking odd. The design is unisex and very streamlined – definitely no ruffles, ribbons, cupcakes or ‘yummy mummy’ wording – so dads won’t look ridiculous when carrying it. The pods: Need a bag that’s going to help you be more organised? (I really do). The difference with Pacapod is the organisational system of detachable bags, or pods, that nest inside. These make it really easy to keep everything separate, sorted and help you remember all the things you might need. It also means there’s not a massive collective pool of stuff in the bag in which you can never find anything when you need it. There are two pods, one for baby changing and one for food. We use the change pod for wipes, nappies, nappy bags, handwash and the odd random Toy Story figure – all the usuals. The super-useful thing about this pod is that you can take it out wherever you need to change the baby so don’t have to take the entire bag into the change room (it also comes with a change mat that sits in a pocket at the back of the bag). The feeder pod is designed to carry snacks, food and bottles. It’s actually a separate rucksack for toddlers (how cute?). Inside it’s insulated, lined with a wipeable fabric – perfect for those squished bananas and leaky water bottles – and has an inner zipped pocket for loose items like cutlery. As we don’t use bottles I only tend to use this one for snacks when we’re out and about with the toddler. There are also additional pockets and spaces for all practical non-baby things like your mobile phone, wallet and the fifty lip glosses, lolly sticks, tissues and train ticket receipts I always seem to end up carrying around. The practical bits: There are two straps – one at the top of the bag, and the longer cross body strap that’s adjustable. There are also pram clips (but we tend to hook it on the pram handle using the shorter strap). The pods also have separate straps so you can hang these from the handle if you just want to take those out and not the whole bag. How big is the bag? There are two main sections of the bag, and the pods live in one of these (if you want some additional space you can take them out, or you can use one at a time). The bag also has an expandable section via the zip that runs round the bottom of the bag. Opening this up gives you extra room for those days when you need lots and lots of extra stuff (like the ten changes of clothes, books, toys, all the usual random stuff that ends up in change bags – so basically it’s great for life with two children). The bag is also wide enough to fit a laptop, which means it would be a good work bag. The verdict..? The Pacapod Sydney is a seriously grown up bag; it’s super stylish and something I would buy when looking for a normal bag. The attention to detail is meticulous, and it’s packed with little touches like the patterned change mat that sits in its own pocket on the top of the bag and the feeder pod that’s a separate rucksack. At £245 it is more than your average fabric change bag, but you’re buying a lovely, real leather bag, plus the benefits of a baby change bag and the pod system. If you want a change bag that doesn’t compromise on style, and that’s also practical without being boring, this is definitely the one.

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Talking about toddlers…

Gillian — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 20:00:09 +0000

Just a quick note to say it’s currently toddler month over on TalkMum. It’s a subject I could talk about for hours for obvious reasons; here’s mine, measuring up my feet today. There’s lots of fantastic posts to come, but two I really love so far are life-changing tip for dealing with tantrums, from Rachel from Make a Long Story Short, and fun activities to entertain your toddler by Fran from The Parent Social. You can also read the recap of midwife month, as well as lots of advice on pregnancy and birth from the in-house midwife and something I wrote about whether hypnobirthing can help you have a pain-free labour, and if it’s something I should try (and if you ever want to write anything, just let me know – we’d love to have you!)

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The problems with being a work-from-home parent

Gillian — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 07:11:55 +0000

For well over a year now, ever since I decided not to go back to my pre-baby job, I‘ve been working as a freelancer. It has been, for the most part, brilliant. I have work-life balance for the first time in my career, get to be my own boss, love what I do and spend lots of time with my daughter. With occasional forays into an office, I mainly work from home on the two days that Eliza goes to nursery. It works for us and everyone’s happy. However, working from home is not without its challenges and obstacles, I’ve noticed, And it seems to present an particular set of problems when you’re a parent… Everything I read about working from home mentions the brilliance of being able stay in your pyjamas. However; need to drop your child off at nursery first? You’ll definitely have to put some proper clothes on. And it’s pointless changing back into them when you’ll need to go out to get them a few hours later. You don’t work in an office, but everyone else in your entire street does. And they ALL have an obsessive online shopping habit. Which means that several times a day, a delivery man will ring your door – “Ooh, delivery for me!” you think – and then you’re faced with someone sheepishly asking if you mind taking something in for next door (“…oh….Again?”) The hallway is lined with parcels, none of them for you This also means that no-one else is around when you go to do the nursery run, which is the only time of day your own parcels seem to arrive However, going from working in a busy office to being solo at home can be quite, well, quiet. So you’re secretly glad to see the delivery man for a chat, and the builder knows your entire life story, why you’re eating cake for breakfast, and your long and rambling theories on recent news events. To be fair, you now also know all about his evening, children, what he thinks of the news, and how to construct downstairs cloakrooms in cupboards It’s hard to pick a parenting label. I’m a working mum, but part time. I stay at home, but I’m not a stay-at-home mum (for some of the week) Where do I fit? There’s no Christmas party when you freelance…but on the other hand there’s no 6am cold, prickly grip of fear, shame and hungover regret. That’s your festive bonus, right there Making your own lunch is never as nice as going out for a burger, burrito or fancy-pants sandwich. Especially when the only things in the fridge are Babybels and Thomas the Tank Engine yoghurts As my desk is the kitchen table, I often find crayoning in my work notebook, glitter on the laptop, and an assortment of plastic play figures in my paperwork. OK, so I jest (slightly). In all seriousness, not going back to my old job is the best decision I ever made. Are you thinking about it? Do it!

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I’m going to Britmums Live…

Gillian — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:58:26 +0000

I’m off to the Britmums Live mum blogger conference in a couple of weeks. So here’s all about me, in response to the ‘I’m going to Britmums Live’ meme...if you’re also going, make sure you say hello: Name: Gill Crawshaw / Blog: A Baby on Board / Twitter ID: @gill_crawshaw Height: 5.4 / Hair: pretty ginger, loving the power of the Brazillian Blow Dry / Eyes: brown, constantly squinting at my iPhone (apparently!) Is this your first blogging conference? No, I actually attended the very first Cybermummy event in PR capacity. I was also a last-minute blogger attendee at Britmums Live 2012 along with a very mini Eliza (read my post here). Are you attending both days?: Yes. What are you most looking forward to at Britmums Live 2013? Finally getting to meet lots of the brilliant bloggers I chat to online. Also, meeting up with people I’ve been lucky enough to meet before. And I won’t have a baby with me this time, so I’ll be able to stay longer (and drink more wine). What are you wearing? Taking a crazy guess that it’ll be something along the lines of stripy top, skinny jeans, statement necklace (or maybe this dress). What do you hope to gain? A whole load of blog ideas and inspiration. Meeting lots of other bloggers. Hopefully no hangover. Tell us one thing about you that not everyone knows: I’ve never played Candy Crush (I think I’m the only one…) P.S. – the photo was predictably styled up using the Beautiful Mess iPhone app. You can read more about it in my first post for Shiny Shiny – woohoo.

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Talking TalkMum

Gillian — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:12:27 +0000

I’ve been meaning to write for a while about what I’m now doing work-wise, and for various teeth and sleep related reasons I’ve not quite got round to it just yet. I will soon, but in a nutshell I officially finished maternity leave at the start of the year and have been freelancing part-time since January. One of the things I’m working on at the moment that I absolutely love is a community management role editing TalkMum.com. TalkMum is a collaborative blog set up by the people behind the Pregnacare range of vitamins, designed to talk all about issues around trying for a baby, pregnancy, and being a new mum (so, pretty much right up my street then…) It involves working with some fantastic writers, including Fran, Rachel, Kiran, Eleanor, Nat, Marissa, Fozia, Anna and Cath. The new theme for May launched today – it’s birthdays, milestones and memories, and you can read lots more from previous months in the February, March and April round-up posts. (And if you’re reading this and would like to know more about getting involved with writing, or want to write a guest post, just drop me a line). On the nursery side, thank you for all the lovely helpful comments about Eliza settling in, it seems like so long ago! She now absolutely loves it and will even bring me her shoes and bag on the morning of her nursery days. The best part of any working day though is always the really long hug when I pick her up, and seeing how animated she is, with crazy hair, covered in food, and babbling away on the journey home. Photos: big thanks to the TalkMum bloggers in March.

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