In just over a year, my blog has led me to a network of new friends who share similar interests, recognition as one of the Top 30 Vancouver Mom Bloggers, a steadily increasing number of followers, some exciting product review offers, invitations to fabulous and inspirational events, discussions with the Premier and other leading women, and now, a completely new career change. After over 8 years of working as a Marketing Manager in the corporate world, I was starting to feel like it was time for a change.
At first I wanted to move up into a senior executive role, where I would oversee a department and take on new responsibilities and challenges, but as I started to search for new opportunities – interviewing for exciting positions and dreaming of life in the potential new roles, I realized something: What I really wanted was to find that family/work balance that many of us career moms dream of. To do a job that I felt passionate about, while also having the ability to spend more time with my littles.
Since my daughter’s first day of Kindergarten, something inside me changed. I suddenly felt as though I was missing out on big mommy moments. I wasn’t able to drop her off or pick her up from school (her before/after school care was doing that for me), which meant I wasn’t getting to know her teacher or the other parents. I wasn’t able to participate in the constant opportunities for parents to help with field trips, classroom activities and school events. And it was those things, combined with my dwindling enthusiasm for my existing career, that led me to the realization that what I wanted was flexibility.
If it weren’t for the women I’ve met through my blog, through the fabulous events I’ve attended, and through conversations I’ve had through Twitter and other social media outlets, I wouldn’t have known that it was possible to have both. I’ve met so many women who have figured it out – who have thriving careers but also that family balance that seemed so out of reach to me. I realized, if they can find that balance, why can’t I?
I began to search for part time opportunities. I knew it would be a challenge – that my dream of finding something that would be challenging, advance my career, and allow me to work 5 hours a day so I could do all of the pick ups and drop offs, was next to impossible. But as they say, if you dream it, it will come.
Through having been chosen as a Top 30 Vancouver Mom Blogger, I had attended some exciting events and had discovered many new companies, blogs and websites. One of which was VancouverMom.ca – the site that had hosted the top blogger contest and the Leading Moms event I had recently enjoyed. I sent a note to the CEO/Founder of Crisp Media (host to Vancouver Mom and other City Mom Now sites across Canada) and asked if she knew of any opportunities.
Coincidentally, she had been looking for someone to take on the business development side of her company, and the qualities and experience she was looking for made me the perfect match. After a few calls it was confirmed – she invited me to join her team and I accepted!
I have officially resigned from my full time coporate career, and am taking on a new role as a WAHM. I’m nervous about all of the changes that will come, but excited to be following my heart, by both focusing more of my time on my family, and taking on a new career that fosters many of my personal passions. Wish me luck as I embark on this new journey!
Do you have any advice for me about becoming a WAHM after working in the corporate world?
17 Comments
Congratulations! I love working from home (most of the time :)) and the flexibility it provides as a parent when you need it is wonderful. This sounds like an amazing opportunity for you!
That’s great Bianca….I only wish I had enough guts to do the same thing….best of luck on this new adventure and I’m sure you are going to do a wonderful job
Oh my gosh, Bianca that’s fabulous news! Congratulations. I can’t wait to hear more about what you’ll be doing. What an amazing opportunity 🙂
How fabulous for you!! So wonderful.
I’ve never been a WAHM though, so I am not sure I have any tips in that regard.
However, when I became a SAHM the hardest thing was that sudden loss of “team”…..I was home alone (well, with baby and a toddler) and not at the coffee machine talking: with adults!! It could be so isolating at times. I felt so out of touch with the world. There were definitely a few miserable first months while I adjusted. So I would definitely recommend staying in touch with the “outside world” as much as possible. Even if it is just a quick trip to the Starbuck’s for a coffee.
Advice: Have an office with a door. It should be your “work place”; locate all your work equipment, artifacts etc. in there. After your working hours, try not to go into that room too much.
When I did my startup for 4 yrs and was based from home, the hardest part about it was ensuring a don’t work all the time. My house (condo at the time) became my workplace and it was hard to separate the two. Moving my “work” into my office created a physical and mental divide that truly helped me get the work/life balance i was after.
Oh B, I am so happy for you! Let me know when you are hiring an Ontario mommy 🙂 Super happy for you.
Enjoy a whole lotta lounge pants and being able to stay caught up on stuff like – while having a conference call, you can fold laundry, or put a roast in the oven at 3PM so its ready for dinner time 🙂 Meal planning takes on a whole new world of options. You can also fit in time for exercise easier being p/t….oh and bringing the old laptop onto the deck on sunny days doesn’t suck either 🙂
Also: Stock up on snacks! And having a beer at the end of a long week means no having to drive home after!
Thanks for the support and all the great tips everyone! I’ll continue to blog about my new adventures, and I’m sure I’ll be looking for more tips as I move through this new endeavour!
Congratulations and welcome to to our crazy world! I shouldn’t say I work at home, because I absolutely cannot work from my apartment – I am one of those annoying people clogging up coffee shop tables (though I have to say I always keep my stuff under my chair and leave if it becomes too busy) pounding away on a laptop. My husband also works from home part of the day, time-shifted for Europe, so we are a household of random schedules. Looking forward to hearing about your new position!
Wow! That’s awesome, Bianca! Congrats. 🙂
Wow, Bianca, good for you! I don’t have any advice, but I know you will rock it.
I’m not a mom, but I’ve worked from home- my advice: have *very* distinct work hours. Once work infiltrates your evenings and weekends, you will never feel like you have off time and it wears a person out really quickly.
Congratulations. That is so exciting. I am really noticing this year that I am missing out on pick ups, drop offs and field trips. It makes me sad. I keep telling myself, that I get all summer, spring break and Christmas break so I shouldn’t complain. I am glad you were able to find something that worked for you.
So excited for you! Congratulations again!!
Welcome to the world of VM! I’m sure we’ll meet very soon:)
Since I left my full-time job when Theo was nine months old (so 3 years ago now!), I have not had a single moment without a contract, and now it’s a matter of saying no so I can fulfill my aim of drop-off, pick-up and two days a week allotted to swimming, science world and assorted fun activities. Woop!
Oh yes, in terms of advice, don’t let work infiltrate every evening and weekend. Learn to say no.