With the new Masterchef series hotting up, Boys Weekend Mothers Day Special, Biggest Loser and My Kitchen Rules just finished, the early part of 2010 has been a huge year for Justine May, a mum from Melbourne and as founder of Chefs Ink, a "mum" to some of Australia's best loved TV Chefs.
Justine May has been married to Brett for 14 years. She has two children, Ethan 6 and Kalan 5 and owns the chefs management agency, Chefs Ink.
Justine May
C4K: What sort of working hours or schedule do you have and how do you manage with the kids?
JM: For the past 11 years I've been working full time, but not the traditional 9-5, as I tried to structure my work around the boys. I travel to Sydney about once a fortnight, usually overnight, but every now and again it's a two-nighter. I also do at least one overseas work trip per year. Last year was New York for 10 days, and this year it will be Cannes in October for MIPCOM for about 8-9 days.
My work is mainly spent on the phone or email: Organising contracts, negotiating deals, developing brand strategies for my clients, taking inquiries for bookings. The idea for the business came 11 years ago, when I knew I wanted to do something on my own, after been in large Hotels in senior management for a number of years. My mother had been diagnosed with Melanoma cancer a few years before, and I wanted the flexibility to attend her doctor's appointments and treatments with her, and also knew that I didn't want to be managing a hotel once I had children, as the hours are too long & demanding. I just couldn't see myself being a fulltime stay at home Mum, but didn't want my children in full time care either.
C4K: Did you take any time off when you had the boys?
JM: I pretty much worked right through when I had the boys. I was taking calls in the hospital while learning to breast feed, as I had a client with a big event on at that time Ethan was born!! I employed someone part-time to manage the day to day activities, and after a few weeks I began doing a few hours here and there. I suppose it would have been good to have a solid block of time to immerse myself in motherhood, but then I wouldn't have had the benefit of the flexible role I have now.
C4K: How did you make the transition to child care if you didn't really have any time off?
JM: I didn't really have a choice to not work, mainly because I would have lost the clients and contacts I had spent five years building! The hardest thing was putting the boys into childcare twice a week when they were 7 months. I know I was lucky as it was only 2 days, but as my mother was not well, and my in-laws lived far away, having family help wasn't an option. And as I worked from home, having a Nanny wouldn't have worked well either. It was heart wrenching having to leave them crying, but I always rang in 20minutes later, and the carers assured me they were fine.
C4K: How do you manage with work and looking after the boys now that your busier and the boys are in Kindy?
JM: I now have a Nanny who collects the boys from kindy/school twice a week, and stays until about 6.30pm. She does dinner and bath, and readers with Ethan. On a Friday she looks after Kalan from 10am – 3pm, as he isn't at kindy on a Friday. I find the 9am-3pm hours 4 days per week that the Kindergarten offers, is worth the money. It's a lovely, nurturing environment where the children learn, make friends and get ready for school the following year. Our arrangement works well because the boys love Catie, our Nanny. I am still around most weeks to do Taekwondo and playdates etc and as Catie is at Uni, she's flexible enough to change her days when I'm travelling.
C4K: What pre-school / school do they attend and what was your reason for that choice?
JM: My main reason for choosing Lauriston Kindergarten was the Reggio Emilia learning technique they use, and also the longer hours, which gave me greater flexibility for work hours, as well as running the house as such. The facilities are great, it is close to our home, and the teachers are wonderful.
C4K: Did you find it hard to find suitable child care the first time round?
JM: Finding childcare took a lot of planning. I went to the local childcare places during my pregnancy to get enrolment forms view the facilities, meet the carers etc, as I figured my head would be mush in the first few months after giving birth and I had been told you had to put your child's name down as soon as they were born to get in.
Once I had spoken to a few people, I decided I wanted them in Samantha's in Glen Iris, as it was a smaller facility with only 4 rooms in total. When I knew I was ready for Ethan to start childcare, I rang once a week and finally rang the same day that someone had cancelled their care, and as I was happy to take their days, so Ethan was in.
C4K: Would you have done anything differently another time around?
JM: I might have perhaps considered doing part childcare part Nanny, but think that it worked for me at the time. I would only do half/half if I was working the hours I am now. Back then, I kept the business small so I could manage it without too much childcare.
C4K: Have you got any funny stories about child care?
JM: When the boys were at Samantha's, Kalan in particular had made a few girlfriends, but one little girl in particular, he was very sweet on. I got called in to pick him up early, as he wasn't well, and the carers told me that his girlfriend, Chloe had been lying on the couch, not well, waiting for her Mum to collect her. Kalan was quite concerned, so lay on the floor near her, and held her hand. The two of them fell asleep like that. It was very sweet. I just hope he continues to have the same sweet nature (with a touch of mischief) that he has now.
C4K: Is there anything about the child care system you don't like or find frustrating or anything you'd like to see changed or implemented?
JM: What I find very frustrating is that there are still issues with childcare places in Victoria. I was dealing with this issue 7 years ago, and I don't understand why they have not come up with a better solution.
Also I really believe that the 50% childcare rebate should apply for Nannies at home as well to give parents greater options, and relieve the pressure on the childcare centres. Australia needs women in the workforce, so with greater childcare options, and more flexible employers smart enough not to want to lose the experience of their female workers, it can only be a Win-Win for everyone.
Perhaps the government should incentivize companies who create flexible work options for Mum's returning to work after having children. Offering tax breaks for those businesses who build childcare facilities on site, or who allow job sharing between women only wanting to work part-time.
Justine's clients include Gary Mehigan, Manu Feildel, Miguel Maestre, Janella Purcell, Simon Humble, Adrian Richardson and Dominique Rizzo.
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