tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481456182314953565.post1333112123500820387..comments2024-03-26T09:07:43.616+00:00Comments on Allison's Blog: Happy Mother's Day David Willetts!Allison Ogden-Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04056527172582080767noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481456182314953565.post-91916605306452473152011-04-05T14:24:53.685+01:002011-04-05T14:24:53.685+01:00Dear Alibeth, thank you for the comment. You are n...Dear Alibeth, thank you for the comment. You are not alone. Almost every woman I know who has had children feels to some degree or another displaced by the experience. As Gaby Hinsliff told us in her piece in Saturday's Guardian, "Think Motherhood turns your brain to mush? Think again", whilst the common perception is that women do not perform as well having had children, the opposite is in fact, true. But it is the perception that carries more weight in the workplace than the reality. you and I both know that being a Mum makes you concentrate more and take bolder decisions. So here's to those bold decisions Ali! You know you have everything ahead of you and as my dear old Dad used to say every day he dropped me off at school "Don't let the buggers get you down".Allison Ogden-Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04056527172582080767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481456182314953565.post-85103585220520401442011-04-04T21:08:55.548+01:002011-04-04T21:08:55.548+01:00I found that post very meaningful and relevant, as...I found that post very meaningful and relevant, as I am in week three of a new job after taking an 18 month "career break". It sounds like I've been on holiday, when in fact, nothing is further than the truth. Instead, in the mostly three years I took off to look after my daughter was born, I managed mostly to run myself into the ground. That was after being pushed out of a job I loved because I could not make the numbers work. <br /><br />Going back to work as an academic in the social change sector when my daughter was 10 months' old meant I would literally have to pay to go to work. As passionate as I was about my job, l wasn't crazy, and so I had to leave. What bothered me most was that I was two-thirds of the way through my doctorate and had a book publishing contract, none of which I was able to complete because without the said job - I had no income, and thus no way to pay for the necessary childcare.<br /><br />People around me at the time, my husband included, suggested I do the writing while my daughter was asleep, especially as she was now sleeping through the night. I was too sleep deprived to reply nicely, so instead I kept my mouth shut while I had cartoon like violent images flashing through my mind. I had to pretty much set fire to my career and hope that one day it would all make sense. <br /><br />I am extremely grateful to say that it has. After resigning 18 months ago, I found a fantastic new academic post with a sympathetic and flexible employer. My team was somehow able to see beyond the black hole in my CV, and has given me the chance to make my mark. But as I do the conference rounds, and re-introduce myself to colleagues, I can't help but feel sad. While they have all published their ideas, completed their doctorates and moved forward, I have stood very still. Any advantage I gained from the momentous effort I put in to developing my career before having a child, has been lost by the years I took off. While I loved looking after my daughter and am grateful for the closeness of our relationship, I do wonder why I had to sacrifice so much in order to get it.Alibeth Somersnoreply@blogger.com