Hello, and welcome to the first Working Mum Series Interview of the year. I am so excited to get these up and running again. It always inspires me to see how mums from all working backgrounds juggle their daily lives with children and work, and I learn so much.
This first interview as you will read below is with Samantha Brueckner, founder of Toddlekind who have the most gorgeous collection of children’s playmats on the market. I can vouch for them as I have one in my kitchen that Savannah spends most of her day playing on!
I love Sam’s interview and really feel it is a great one to start the return of the series. She keeps it very real and honest, and I think many of you reading this will resonate with most of her answers. The mumguilt, the reliance on grandparents (and cleaners!), and finally being more conscious of who we are once we become parents.
I hope you enjoy the interview and please do get in touch if you would like to be part of the series or have any questions
Lisa
xoxo
Toddlekind details:
Website – https://toddlekind.co.uk/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/toddlekind/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.co.uk/toddlekind0369/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/toddlekind
1. Please introduce yourself – what is your job, how many children you have, where you are from etc.
I’m Sam, 38 from Plymouth now residing in Germany. I am the founder of Toddlekind – we specialise in play mats and floor interior accessories for little ones. I have two girls age 2 & 5.
2.How many days/hours a week do you work?
This depends on the time of year but generally I try to work from 9-3pm and again when the kids go to bed if necessary.
3.Describe a typical working day in your household (i.e. morning routines with nursery/school drop offs to evening bedtime)
We wake at 7am and take the kids to Kindergarten at 8.30am with breakfast to go. I work until 12.30pm from home when my husband joins me for lunch. I then try to get the kids at 3.30pm-4.30pm when I cook a light meal and then play with the kids until bedtime. If work requires it we sometimes work in the evening. Or I will get a babysitter and my husband and I may go for a run together.
4.How do you balance working life with motherhood? And what/who do you rely on to make it work?
I couldn’t do it without the support of the grandparents and our cleaner who comes twice a week and does our ironing- It is very difficult finding the balance, especially in the start-up stage but I try to be consciously present with my kids when I am with them and 110% dedicated to my job when I am working. I also outsource anything I can like fulfilment, marketing.
5.What is the best thing about being a working mum?
Being a Mum is the best job in the world but the pay is terrible. Working is a means to an end and when it’s your business and passion then every cent earned has more meaning somehow.
6.And the hardest?
When all the other mums are at home full time and you’re the last to get them from Kindergarden, the Mum guilt!!!
7.How do you unwind? Motherhood (as well as work!) can be relentless – what do you do to relax?
Running, yoga, sauna, massage.
8.How do you manage your relationship with your husband/partner as well as working and juggling the daily life of raising children?
We dedicate time just to us – sauna, going on date nights and do sport together. Play together, stay together my grandmother said!
9.Do you feel that motherhood has changed you, and if so, how?
Parenthood has made me more conscious of who I am, what values I stand for and what priorities I have in life. Work is important but it is all meaningless when you hold your baby in your arms – being a mum made me more spiritually aware.
10.Can you tell us one lesson that you have learned from your child/children and one that you have taught them?
Children have taught me the importance of being in the NOW – meditation is how I practise it but they do it naturally. My kids teach me about what really matters – love, laughter and discovery.
I have tried to teach my kids to always say no if they don’t like something and never to feel pressure to do something to please someone else. Making them strong is important to me.
11.What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing working mothers at the moment?
Finding balance – the world expects perfect mothers who give 100% at their jobs. This is not possible and the Mum guilt associated with this has become the norm. Mums need to be supported through more flexible working and fairer pay.
12.What does ‘flexible working’ mean to you?
Working from home, at hours to suit me and my family.
13.What are your go to stores/websites/blogs for your work and everyday wardrobe, and what are your staple pieces as a working mum?
I’m at home so I just want to be comfy. I mostly wear jeans, t-shirts and cardigans. I love one stop shops like Zalando and I use their personal shopping service Zalon which is free. Perfect for time poor Mums!
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?
Have courage and believe in yourself. I didn’t have a lot of support for my business idea but I pursued it with passion and proved everyone wrong. Success starts with a thought, in fact everything starts with a thought. Look around at the physical world and everything in it was an idea that was brought to reality. If you are driven and passionate then you will succeed.
