Kendra Osborn is a fitness instructor with two children, Summer, 2½ and a son, Xavier, 8 months. She is married to Quentin, and lives in Freshwater NSW.
Her profile includes some great advice for today's modern working mums to make sure we really do make the most of our children's early years... Work-Life balance is so hard to get, but children are a blessing and many of us may only get one shot at motherhood... so we have to try to make the most of it.
Kendra Osborn
When my daughter was born, I had just recently obtained my dream job, managing a Fitness Centre. I pushed through my pregnancy working 9-12 hour days right up until giving birth, and returned to work soon after, working long days (10+ hours), both Managing the fitness club and teaching classes before and after work.
I registered on CareforKids.com.au for child care vacancies in our area but before any came up, I found a nanny through another mother at my mothers' group. She mentioned she had found a nanny in January 2006, but did not need her until April 2006, so I asked if I could "borrow" her until I could find care in a childcare centre, and she has been my nanny ever since. The other mother and I simply share her - it was too easy! Not only that but she lives across the street!
In hindsight a childcare centre would not have worked for our situation, because in the fitness industry we work early mornings and late nights (around everyone else's "9-5" schedule) and I would never have made the child care time frame.
With my first born I wanted to return to work because I felt I was not able to stay at home with a child all day; I thought mind needed more stimulus and interaction with adults. I had also strived to get into a Management position for so long, I wasn't about to let my career pass me by... our daughter was with a nanny from 8:30am until 7:30pm every day.
Our nanny was exceptional for us because not only did she give us a very reasonable rate (even less expensive than our local day care), but was also flexible with drop off/pick up times. She also had up to four other children at a time, so the interaction with a small group of other kids was a lure for us. Our nanny worked perfectly. She included all meals for my daughter, crafts and activities and play groups.
When my son was born, however, I started to realise how much I had missed out on with my daughter. I had not seen her take her first steps, her first words nor did I know anything about her routine, what to do when she got sick, etc. I had to call my nanny to ask her when she was supposed to eat, sleep and what I should do when she had a "chest cough!"
My priorities quickly shifted when my son was born as I realised this might be my last child, and you only get one opportunity to see your child grow and develop... but work will always be there!
So, I decided to do my best to combine both my career-oriented lifestyle with being a mum, and I couldn't be happier! I changed my routine and responsibilities and I now teach around ten fitness classes a week, which equates to working only roughly two hours a day... the rest of the time I get to spend with my children!
For half of my classes I am fortunate enough to take the kids to the fitness centres Kids Club's (which they LOVE!), and on the more busy days I take them to our previous nanny instead of hurdling them around from class to class. They get interaction with other children, a frequent change of environment in different play environments and still get to see their beloved nanny Renee two days a week. The added bonus is as a mum; I get to keep on top of the ever-changing fitness industry and get to keep fit for a living! Sometimes I even take the children to work!
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