Josie Gagliano is a freelance journalist, publicist, and blogger. Writing is a huge passion, and she been lucky enough to have indulged in it in several ways, over several decades. And now, raising her four-year-old twins also gives her exceptional joy - as well as the occasional headache.
Josie has written for a range of magazines and sites including Jetstar magazine, Marie Claire Australia, Madison magazine, Studio Bambini, Cream magazine, Mamamia, thepunch.com.au, to name a few and writes two blogs: one, her pop culture site Josie's Juice which garners readers from all around the world, and the other, Twinne World, a site where parenting issues of the day are discussed. She is writing her first book, and lives in Sydney with her husband and twins.
Josie Gagliano
C4K: Being a freelancer you probably have a fairly unpredictable schedule. How do you manage it all with child care and parenting - particularly with twins, or does twins make it easier?
JG: When I had my twins, I thought my life was going to be chaotic, hard to organise, and I'd never work again. Well, part of that was true. It is chaotic. It has been hard to organise, but with childcare and a tight daily routine, I was able to work again. And quickly, thanks to the flexibility of freelance work. I was continuing small projects before the twins were even one month old. I know that sounds mad now, but I knew at the time I wanted to do something that wasn't 'baby-centric' while I was doing the most important job in the world: nurturing these two new human beings I'd been blessed with.
Having twins has kinda gotten the baby-making phase of my life 'done' and while the madness was well and truly present for the first year or so, it then settled into a nice hum of routine, where sleep times and meal times and play time were all the same for both children. I see it with friends who have a baby, get that child settled, then have another, and start the whole sleepless night thing all over again. Both scenarios are exhausting – twins are exhausting for a while, then it all plateaus out.
C4K: What sort of child care do you have and was it difficult to find it/get it all in place?
JG: I take my kids to an 'Early Learning Centre' and they love it. I was extremely lucky – it was the first centre I went to and I'd gone along for a 'play and stay': I brought the kids along to get them familiar with the environment and see if they liked it. While I was there they told me they had not one, but two spots that had just been made available. I jumped on it super quick and by the next week they starting attending the centre. They have been going there for a few years now, starting with one day a week, increasing to two, and now, three. Best thing I have done for them – and me – so far.
C4K: Do you think that there's enough support out there for working mums?
JG: Because I work freelance – and mostly from home – I feel as supported as is possible for someone running my own 'show.' The reality of freelance is that my hours are so flexible (although most work does need to be done during working hours) which is great, but it also means I am also on call. Constantly. And that is often exhausting. I need to learn how to delineate work time and private time better, and stick to my own boundaries if when is the right time to switch off, so I have time to unwind, so I have energy to do it all again tomorrow. I don't always listen to my own rules, especially if I have deadlines.
For mums who work full-time in, or even part-time, in an office or out of the home, it is imperative that mothers (and fathers!) are supported. If they have to leave early because a child needs to be picked up from daycare on time, or is ill, it should be a supportive environment where that is okay, not frowned upon. There is no point making parents feel guiltier than they already do for juggling two lives they try so hard to do well.
C4K: 24% of our working mum readers said they were only working to keep their careers alive, but actually with the cost of childcare it wasn't actually financially viable for them to go back to work. Do you think child care is too expensive or do we need to get real with the cost of quality care?
JG: I have found that, because I work sporadic hours on varied jobs, and have never been able to go back to work full-time I don't earn a massive wage, which in turn means that the government covers a decent amount of the cost of childcare for my children. In cases where women are working full-time on high-earning jobs, I understand that childcare fees are very high. Which yes, kind of makes you question if it worth going to work just to pay for care. I think most women will tell you, though, that work gives them much more than a wage: it gives them a freedom they can't put a price on. And gets their children in early education which is essential for a good start on their schooling life.
C4K: Nannies currently don't have the same status as child care centres and other "approved care" in terms of the tax rebate, but they're often working mums' only viable solutions. Should they have the same status and do you think all child care should be tax deductible or is that taking things too far?
JG: Child care as a tax deduction – yes! Although I must say that Centrelink is more than generous in supporting mums, especially those working fewer hours. Nannies should definitely have that same status as child care centres – wouldn't that open up a whole new world for working families? And wouldn't that be fantastic! It completely makes sense, and gives families yet another option for care.
C4K: Apparently Australians are getting more and more time poor and more and more stressed! How do you maintain your composure or are you often running around like a headless chicken?!
JG: I do run around like a chook without a head sometimes, and sure, I am time poor, but the way I have found more time is to have my children in a strict daily routine. Right from as early as we could manage, my husband and I got our baby twins into a routine so they knew that at the end of the day, dinner time and bath time were set hours. Which means that bed time is always a set time, and that leaves several hours before bed to do more things: unwind, work, spend time with my husband, even go to work functions if I need to. Being organised opens a whole new door of possibility when it comes to finding even more pockets of time.
C4K: And on the twins thing… how have you found being a mum of twins in terms of cost, coping, life in general and what are the best and worst bits of getting that ultimate two for one deal?
JG: Twins: ah yes. It has been quite the ride having 'two for the price of one'. I always say that I have only ever known the 'chaos' of having two so that's what I have been used to right from the beginning. Cost? Yes, it's an expensive exercise setting yourself up for two new babies. We had to get a whole new kind of car! Suddenly we needed one that would fit two baby seats, a twin pram, us and a couple of visiting grandmothers! The Kia Carnival did it for us – I can't recommend it highly enough. Then there was double the nappies, double the food, double the equipment like high chairs and cots, double everything.
Coping? Well, I will say it is definitely not easy (and every friend who has had one baby since marvels at how I have done it with two) but you learn to cope – fast. My husband and I did it all alone – no help from in-laws or babysitters – and we most certainly feel like a stronger team for it.
The best part? Our family is complete and we don't have to start all over again. The sacrifices have been more than worth it.
C4K: What are your top tips for successful juggling?
JG: Time management is a big one. But cut yourself some slack when all doesn't go to schedule. Also, accept that your life is no longer yours, no longer with the same agenda it used to have, and you will find you will accept the huge transition much easier. Sometimes it all goes haywire, but if you are always on the same page as your partner, things go back to how they should be super-quick.
C4K: What 3 things could you not do without as a working mum?
JG: Honestly, my Foxtel IQ is one – I program what I 'need' (and what I want) - from news programs, to current affairs show, to morning shows, as well as shows like The Project, The Soup, and anything that starts with 'The Real Housewives Of…'). Then I playback what I need to feel up to speed and informed – and I often do so while I am writing so I feel like I have company, which makes me even more productive.
My laptop – since moving from a desktop where I was bound to one spot in the house and I worked in solitude (much to my dislike), to a laptop, where I was not restricted to where I sat as I worked on projects, I have seen a vast increase on my work load, I am happier, and I can do my work anywhere, and feel surrounded by noise. This make me work better and more efficiently.
And my husband, for often being the 'glue' of the home, the one who helps keep the cogs of our home turning. He helps by doing more than his share of housework and helping a huge amount with the children. I could not what I do without him.
JG.
For more from Josie, head to her blogs: Josie's Juice and Twinne World
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