June-July 2008
This is our monthly feature in which we talk to a working mum about the challenge of raising a family while, at the same time, holding down a full-time job.
This month, we’ve spoken to Julie Rainey, who works for Kindercare Fostering in Northern Ireland and is mum to eight-year-old Adam.
Tell us a little about your family.
My husband Ian and I got married 10 years ago this month at Gretna Green. Ian is a software architect. We have one son, Adam, who will be eight next month.
What job do you do and what time commitment is involved?
I’m senior administrator for Kindercare Fostering Northern Ireland, which is a private fostering agency covering all of Northern Ireland. I work 25 hours per week, which involves one longer working day and four days when I finish in time to pick up Adam from school.
In addition, I’m also the company’s staff representative. I travel to our head office in London to attend monthly board meetings. This role gives me a great chance to meet and work with people from the other offices in England. I think the fact that I’m a part-time, working mum sitting on my company’s Board is very indicative of the open-minded, forward thinking and flexible company that Kindercare Fostering is.
Do you use full-time childcare?
No. I made a decision when Adam was born that I wouldn’t rely on full-time childcare unless at some stage it became essential. Once or twice a month, I ask my parents to help out with minding Adam. I really appreciate this help, as I know Adam is in safe hands and enjoys spending time with his grandparents.
Do you feel that you’ve got your work/life balance right, or do you sometimes feel that it’s all a bit much?
I feel I have a very balanced life. When I was a child, my mum was able to be there for me after school and I wanted to be able to do the same for Adam. For me personally, a “high-flying” career is not the be-all-and-end all. If you can, just do a job you enjoy and have the time to enjoy your family. Family comes first. A job you enjoy going to every day, like mine, is a real bonus though! It’s just getting that “balance” which can be tricky and can take a while to achieve. Hopefully I can maintain that balance as long as possible.
Do you ever encounter negative attitudes to working mums?
Not at all in my current job. As a young, working mum I feel my manager at Kindercare Fostering is very accommodating and flexible. Niall has a young family himself and appreciates that a bit of flexibility goes a long way. Infact, the company culture is to be flexible with all staff.
Do you feel that government could do more to help working mums meet their commitments?
With the increase in the use of the internet, email and instant messaging, perhaps there should be more opportunities for mothers (and fathers), depending on their type of work, to work from home. There could also be more flexible working hours across a wider spectrum of jobs. Also more middle to large size companies could have on-site crèches for pre-school children. That way mums could get to work quicker, rather than running to childminders in the opposite direction, the children are on site and they can be visited at tea breaks and lunch times.
Will there be a time in the future when you might decide to stay at home rather than work?
During the first five years of Adam’s life I stayed at home. For three of these years we were living in Spain, so I didn’t have the same support network as here. Adam did go to a great Spanish-speaking nursery school from the age of two, but other than that I wouldn’t have trusted anyone enough to mind Adam. When he started primary school back here, I really wanted to get back to work just to get out of the house, keep busy and to be in adult company. I’m not a sitting around, coffee morning kind of person! I don’t think I will ever go back to staying at home, even when Adam is older, as I like the structure working give to your day.
Caption: Julie enjoying some quality time with her son, Adam