{#JanuaryJoy - refocus on your career}

Today's prompt from Rebecca over at Florence Finds for her #JanuaryJoy series, is to 'refocus on your career'.

Regular readers will know that I have a PhD and I'm a part-time scientist... and my blog is my creative outlet that I write in my spare time.

I've dipped my toes into other careers over the years... retail, hospitality, photography... but science was always my strong subject and it seemed sensible to pursue a job in this field.

I don't know many people who have swapped their career, but one person that sprung to mind was Steve over at Cherry Tree Films.

Steve was the videographer for my wedding, and the wedding films he creates are just amazing (I'd definitely recommend them, and a few of my friends have since used Steve for their weddings). Anyway, Steve has a degree in Biology and worked for 8 years in the pharmaceutical industry before turning his hobby into a business.

I'm not saying I want to completely change my career... I spent 8 years training to do what I do (5 years at uni for my first degree, and then another 3 for my PhD) and so far I've only been working in the 'real world' for 6 years.

My current employer is brilliant and I've been so lucky in that respect. My hours are flexible and at the moment I'm working part-time.

What concerns me are the next 2 years whilst I juggle nursery & school runs with the kids dad. I'm hoping it will become easier once they're both at school, which will be August 2016.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a lottery win (what are the chances??) and then I can pursue one of my dream jobs, like opening a cupcake cafe/gift shop or working on the CBeebies show 'Nina & The Neurons'!

Nina & The Neurons

{A Mother's Work Meme}

Right, I've been tagged by A Working Mum to participate in A Mother's Work Meme which was started by mother.wife.me

Here goes...

• Please post the rules... done!
• Answer the questions, in as much or as little detail as suits you
• Leave a comment on mother.wife.me so we can keep track of the meme
• Tag 3 people and link to them on your blog
• Let them know you tagged them
• Tweet loudly about taking part (well, ok, that isn't a rule, but how about if we start a hashtag #amothersworkmeme)

Questions:

Did you work before becoming a mum?

Yes, I have spent a number of years at university studying - I successfully completed a degree and I was mad enough to go onto study for a PhD too. I went from university into the 'real world' in 2007, working full-time job with a small Glasgow-based company.

What is your current situation?

I am still with my original employer. After the birth of my son, I returned to work after 12 months maternity leave on a part-time basis (3 days a week, Mon-Wed) and I have since had my daughter and I returned to in January after 9 months maternity leave, and I am still working 3 days a week. My employer has been very understanding of my situation, my hours are flexible to allow me to do the nursery drop-off / pick-up and I returned to work after my second child to a new promoted position and snazzy new job title! 

I believe I have a good work/life balance, even if I am a little tired at times!

Freestyle - got your own point you'd like to get across on this issue... Here's your chance!

My son is nearly 3 years old and will qualify for a funded nursery place at a council nursery or partnership provider from August this year. This is a free term-time, part-time place (3 hours per day / 15 hours per week). Unfortunately, the nursery at which my son is settled is not a partnership provider (when we had enrolled him I was under the impression that by the time it came to him turning 3 years old that they would have become a partnership provider, but they still are not - nightmare!). I'm now in a quandary as to what to do. I've put in an application for a council nursery, but it's also a placement request as the nursery is out with my catchment. I very nearly missed the cut off too - why are these deadlines not publicised more? I found out about the application process two days before the submission deadline!! Then, if I do get a funded nursery place, do I move my son from the nursery that he's settled in?? How will I work things if my son is at a different nursery from my daughter?? What happens if I can't get the funded nursery hours compressed into two days rather than 3 hours a day over 5 days?? Argh... I'm very stressed about it all! Why is it not easier?? There, rant over!

I'm not sure which of my mummy 'friends' on Twitter are working parents (well, we're all working really!) and those that are stay at home parents. So if there is anyone out there reading this that wants to join in the meme, then please feel free... :-)