A New Chapter
Katherine Slee, mum to Dylan and Scarlett, shares her experience of how returning to work can turn out to be something altogether different.
I used to work as an investment banker. But my husband and I agreed that we didn’t want our future children to only see their parents at weekends, the intervening hours spent with a nanny or at nursery. Of course, we were in the fortunate position where we had the choice.
Then my children were no longer babies. As they grew tall enough to be clothed in uniforms instead of babygros a new experience beckoned. I had time. Six whole hours every day when I didn’t have to be a mum. I could be me.
What to do with all those extra minutes? I couldn’t return to my old job even if I wanted to. The
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It wasn’t easy. My husband would leave the house before the children woke and rarely got home before they were in bed. He also travels a lot and so I would find myself alone for the majority of my waking life. This is where the NCT proved invaluable. My weekly coffee mornings with other women going through the same life-changing experiences were invaluable. Their provision of comfort, support and endless cups of tea helped get me through the loneliest moments.