Working Mums Profile: Michaela Wheeler

Michaela Wheeler is a bookkeeper from London and has two children, aged four and two. She got her current position through Working Mums.

How much time did you take off for maternity leave? First time 5 months; second time 14 months.
Did you keep in touch  with your job during maternity leave? Yes.
How was the first week back? The first time it was fine as I went back to my old office; the second time I was very nervous as I had retrained and was in a totally new job.
What kind of childcare do you have and are you happy with it? I have a childminder and I am very happy with her.
What has been your worst  moment as a working parent? Making sure that I fit everything into my day and having to let down colleagues if the children are 
sick. Not enough time in the day.
And your best? I get to enjoy time away from the children so that I am a better mother when I am with them. I get to be me for a few hours a day not just someone’s mum (though I love that too!).
Do you work flexibly? My employer is brilliantly flexible and is very accommodating around the childcare arrangements.
How many hours a week do you work? 9.30am – 5pm, with one longer day per week(8am – 5pm).
How do you cover for holiday periods? I don’t, I just have a stack of work to do when I get back!
What do you feel, if anything, needs to change to improve your work/family life balance? An extra day in the week.
Do you feel there is enough support/advice for working parents? Yes, but then again I have a fantastic husband who supports what I do and a great employer.

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• Tags:
• Childcare Work life balance