As all working mums will tell you, achieving the allusive work/ life balance is near on impossible. Inevitably something has to give, for me it was precious time with my girls, while also feeling guilty for being the only one in the office running out the door (every night) at 5pm – so I could be home in time to collect the girls.
Going back to work after both maternity leaves was difficult but if I’m honest, I loved being back, I missed getting dressed up and having structure to my day. I was ‘me’ again and of course, I missed the banter and company of my lovely colleagues and friends.
When Lili started preschool last year, she started asking if she could have ‘play dates’ and ‘do ballet’. She now needed me in a completely different way and I realised that I wanted to be at the school gates, I wanted to get to know the other mothers and I wanted more than 30mins in the morning and an hour and a half at night with the girls.
Me and Lili after her Christmas concert – proud mama!
But could I give up a job I loved? After talking it through with my husband, mother, friends, (anyone who’d listen) – I decided that it was time. I resigned and now after ten long, happy years it’s time to leave ‘Clarins towers’ and start my new life.
Scared? Yes!
Excited? Totally!
What’s next? Who knows but what I can say is that I’ll try to document as much as I can in this blog. My personal journal of LAC, Life after Clarins.
What’s the first thing I did? Went Running in Lavender with my daughters…
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LOVING your blog! Congratulations on making the leap! You won’t regret it x
Thank you!! Can’t tell you how much that means. Starting out is much scarier than I thought but it’s also more enjoyable. Your blog is lovely xxx
I’m a huge personal fan of yours anyway but now I am a fan of you as a pro-blogger!! Congrats on the next exciting chapter of your life xxxx
Thank you Fiona for all your support! It’s a nervous time but I can’t wait to really get going now xxx
Well done Heledd, love it already!! Can’t wait to see how the girls and yourself grow and become even more lovely on this journey together. Miss you all love
Fabienne x x x
Thanks Fabienne!! Glad you like it, that means so much to me xxx
A very very big decision and good luck with the new life. Its going to be fun and crazy promise =) #BrilliantBlogPosts
Thank you Merlinda! It all feels very scary but really enjoying the process xx
I know that being a stay at home Mum is not for everyone, but I think that leaving Clarins to spend more time with your girls is not a discussion that you will regret. Children are only little for so long and there will come a time when they need us less, so take this time and cherish it!
I can promise you that although there will be days that you question your decision to give up work; the days when you feel like a salmon swimming up stream to lay your eggs, when nothing you do is right, but at night when you give your girls their snuggle before bed, you will know the answers.
I would absolutely love t run through a field of lavender, with or without my children! A lovely picture!
Popped over from #BrilliantBlogPosts.
Thank you got your kind words. I know in my heart that I’ve made the right decision. My head just took a little longer to catch up. I want to be able to give my daughters everything I have to offer, which is just not possible when you’re out of the house for ten hours a day! My main inspiration is my own mum, who still to this day, will drop anything for me and my brother. This makes me feel so loved and cherished and I want to give this same gift to my girls.
Oh congrats on the next chapter to your life, adore this post and wonderful to have you link up to #brilliantblogposts, amazing where blogging can take you too-the last 2 1/2 years have seen me become a professional blogger and all the work experience that came before from journalism to filmmaking and beyond has purely helped all that is my blogs today! Adore that photo of you running in lavender. Mwah x
Thanks Honest Mum! Your words mean so much to me as a newbie. I’m just finding my feet at the moment as everything is new and I’m learning more stuff every day – but I know that the work I’ve been doing over the past ten years will come in handy. Please do stay in touch, I love following your blogs and will be getting more involved with #brilliantblogposts in future. Big kiss back X
Well done Hels, can really relate to this, and you’ve inspired me to really think about work v life. As life’s too short to waste in an office. Pob lwc ar y cyfnod newydd exciting yma. Looking forward to reading your blogs xxxxxxxx
Dioch Helen xx
Life is way too short and the little ones grown so quickly. Make the most of every day, go running in fields and dance in the kitchen!
Dewr iawn Helped!! Pob lwc gyda’r dyfodol, edrych mlan i ddarllen rhagor. Ma’r merched yn gorjys gyda ti
xx
Diolch Catrin xxx
Dewr iawn HELEDD!! Blinkin autocorrect!!! Xxx