Hi Everyone, and a very happy New Year. I hope you are all well and truly settling into a fantastic 2018.
Kicking off the 2018 Working Mum Series is Harriet Jones – the founder of Rockahula kids. This is one of my all time favourite kids accessories brands. There are so many gorgeous and fun pieces, you’ll be addicted as soon as you see them if you’re not a fan already. Harriet has built such a fabulous business, with Rockahula stocked in John Lewis and Harrods, it is only destined for more fabulous things in 2018. I hope you enjoy Harriet’s interview below. I am sure I’m one of many who will agree with her advice on ‘planning the hell out of life’. As a working mum, it’s so hard to balance everything, and I know that I find the only way to leave the house most days is by planning ahead.
Rockahula’s website can be found here Rockahulakids
Lisa
xoxo
Cityrunmum talks to Harriet Jones, founder and Creative Director, Rockahula Kids
1.Please introduce yourself – what is your job, how many children you have, where you are from etc.
I run Rockahula Kids, a boutique children’s accessory brand. I have two little boys and live in Hertfordshire.
2. How many days/hours a week do you work?
I work every week day but leave the office early on a Wednesday so that I can do the school pick up. I sometimes work one day at the weekend too, at really busy times.
3.Describe a typical working day in your household (i.e. morning routines with nursery/school drop offs to evening).
As in most households, this has to be planned with military precision and can be thrown off balance by the smallest thing! I do the morning school run three days a week, after which I hot foot it down to the office which is in the same town that we live. Monday and Tuesday I then pick up the children at 5pm from their after school club and get them home for tea and bed. On Thursdays and Fridays my husband does the school run so I tend to work a little later, but I’ll always aim to be back for tucking in at bedtime.
4.How do you balance working life with motherhood? And what/who do you rely on to make it work?
There’s no doubt it is difficult to find a balance – I try to plan ahead as much as possible which totally goes against my nature so has taken some time to learn. Being self employed means that I will always have the flexibility to be able to go to that special assembly at school, or pick up a child who is poorly, but that does come at the cost of trying to make that time up later, working late at home or going in to the office at the weekend. My husband does the school run two days a week which really makes a difference, and means we both get to see what’s going on at school. We also try to share responsibility for the children as much as possible, but I have definitely had my share of mum-fail moments where I have clean forgotten a birthday party, or some essential piece of kit at school.
5. What is the best thing about being a working mum?
Having a sense of fulfilment from my work is very valuable to me. I feel lucky to be doing something I truly enjoy. I also like the fact that my children can get involved in my work life a little bit – they are my guinea pigs for testing new products and they often come up with their own designs!
6. And the hardest?
Finding that elusive balance. When things are busy or stressful at work and there is a lot going on at home too, it can become quite overwhelming.
7.How do you unwind?
Balancing motherhood with work can be relentless so what do you do to relax when you’re not at work/with the kid(s)? Switching off is definitely an issue for me! If I’m not at work, then I do tend to want to spend that time with the children, however an evening catching up with friends over a nice cold glass of something fizzy would probably be the time when I really do relax.
8. What is your proudest mum moment?
I am thrilled every day just to make it out of the house with two relatively clean children who have been successfully fed and watered and are going to make it in to school on time!
9. Do you feel that motherhood has changed you, and if so, how?
I will weep at literally anything since I became a mother (notably emotional adverts) – it has definitely softened the edges.
10. What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing working mums at the moment? I think many working mums would agree that the bulk of responsibility for the home and children lies with women, on top of work, and challenging that mind set can be difficult. It’s also a challenge to find work that can fit in with family life, it would be great to see larger companies leading the way by offering flexible working hours, to Mums and Dads.
11. What is your proudest work achievement?
To have got to this point, where I am able to work on my own terms in a company that I built up from scratch feels like something to be proud of, and thankful for.
12. What does ‘flexible working’ mean to you’?
Feeling you have a choice about when or where you work, and that you don’t have to give everything up to be able to have a job that gives you satisfaction.
13. What are your go to stores/websites/blogs for your working wardrobe, and what are your staple pieces as a working mum?
My work wardrobe can vary wildly depending on my mood – some days I’ll be in jeans and others I’ll feel like really making an effort. Being pressed for time means that I shop a lot online – with high street stores such as Zara and Mango but also smaller brands like Oliver Bonas and Dahlia. We also have some great independent shops in the town where I live so when I get the time I’ll pop in to those and have a good old rummage.
14. Finally, what advice would you give to new working mums? I.e. those who are just going back to work from maternity leave, setting up their own businesses, or going for a new job?
Go for it, get a support network in place – and learn to plan the hell out of life! Being a working Mum can be hugely rewarding, once you find a routine that works for you.
