The Return
It’s not easy getting back to work. My children are 9 now (yes, I have twins), they are at school and doing fine, one has some issues relating to their premature birth but, all things considered, we are doing ok. I had to give up work back in 2007 because of my daughter’s health issues. It was a blow. I’d never considered being a full time mum, the plan had been six -nine months at home and then back to work. Ha.
The Paediatrician sat in a circle of other Health Professionals at her ‘coming home planning meeting’ (she’d been in hospital seven months) and declared, “Of course you will have to give up work”, I remember my feelings of indignation, who was he to tell me to give up work? My inner feminist baulked at the idea.. He was right of course. Her care needs were such that one of us had to give up work to care for her. My husband was earning more so there was no viable alternative.
So, I gave up work as an Executive Assistant in a national Charity to become a stay-at-home-mum. Actually I became a stay-at-home-mum with SUPER POWERS. I learnt how to place a nasal-gastric feeding tube, administer many doses of medication daily, check for occlusions in feed pump tubes, sort out oxygen condensers… you get the idea. It was full-on. Oh, and I got to learn how to be a mum of twins, scheduling, playing etc etc..
Clearly this was not enough of a challenge, we moved to France five years ago. I’m now mastering the French Health and School systems, and I’ve decided it’s time to get back to work. So, Blackgrape Admin was born. We are in the Lot Valley in Southwest France, home to the black Malbec grapes of the Cahors vineyards. I’m a mum, I’m a Virtual PA. I’m back.
