My Mother’s Day Gift

Aaah Motherhood, that beauty. Once it begins, it comes as a gift that never stops giving and a challenge that never stops testing. My name is Busi, I am from South Africa, and I have been working at The Job Duck for just over a year now. I can honestly say that The Job Duck is a great place to work as a mother. The virtual workplace has changed the game. It is only a shame that I did not find this career opportunity sooner.

My previous jobs were all on-site. On my already existing set of challenges, things like child care, school runs, and how to fit in quality time with my little one were part and parcel of the experience. Regardless, my resources (human and financial) were often stretched thin. 

I cannot begin to describe the stress that would consume me when I was at work, needing to fetch the child from pre-school and take her home (assuming that there is someone to take care of her as I work!) and get back to work after that.

I often had to pay for “after-care” which is a service that the school offered to parents who were unable to fetch their kids at noon when their activities for the day conclude. Let us not even mention what it was like when she was ill or on holiday. I often missed a lot of milestones too, which was heartbreaking on my part.

She only ever wanted to share these moments with me. She only ever wanted to sit and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Peppa Pig with her mom. Those jobs took a whole lot more from me than they ever gave.

Let us fast forward to 2021, when I landed my first virtual job with The Job Duck. My daughter and I have experienced an immense shift in our lives.

At this point, she has grown a lot (10 years old already!). In part because of the time zone difference between my employer and myself, my day looks like this: 

6:00 am: We are getting ready for school and having breakfast. 

7:00 am The school run.

7:30 am: I am back at home, and after a little snooze, I go about my daily business. 

12:45 pm: Off to pick up the not-so-little one. We make our way back home, sit and have lunch together, and catch up on school news. (If she has activities in the afternoon, I take a break and fetch her, or she gets a lift from a trusted friend.)

2:00 pm: She settles down to do some homework, whilst I prepare for the workday. 

2:30 pm: My working hours begin, and I am on hand to help out with homework or give extra hugs, cuddles, and attention if needed. As I work, she goes about her business. I am always close if she needs me, which is comforting.

In the evening, we have supper together, and I oversee her bedtime routine. A full day without the stress of who will pick her up, not a cent spent on child-care, and all the quality time we could ask for. 

Due to my current schedule, I can be present and available whenever my child needs me. By working remotely, I can maintain and grow my relationship with her, which was always compromised when I worked on-site and often asked to work extra hours. What a breath of fresh air!

It has been a long time since I missed an event in her life. She rests assured that she has me, and I have her. I have the best Mother’s day gift I could ask for: time. 

Obstacles and challenges come with motherhood. Finding a job that allows you to tackle these challenges and find work-life balance is a true game-changer. If you are a mother and are looking for a position that lets you flex your mommy muscles, I strongly recommend that you CLICK HERE and apply for an amazing career growth opportunity at The Job Duck. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there!