An interview with Rosy James who is a self-employed finance and operations manager and book-keeper for Blick Shared Studios and other clients and mum to two small children under 3. Our theme this year has been balance and this interview is all about how Rosy tries to balance being a mum with running a business.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role in Blick
I have been working with Blick since it was set up back in 2007, at this stage I worked full time in a different role, I studied economics at university and worked as a economics researcher full time Monday to Friday. I volunteered part time at Blick as it was starting out as a small social enterprise. My role has evolved with Blick as it has grown as an organisation. I left my full time job and became self employed working with Blick and a number of other small businesses more than a decade ago. My main role with Blick is managing the finances (and chief plant waterer)
How many children do you have and what age are they?
I have two children - my eldest is 3 years old and my youngest is 1 years old (there is nearly exactly 2 years between them)
What are the challenges of having children while working for yourself?
It is difficult to take a traditional maternity leave, you don’t have anyone doing your work when you are off and you can’t just switch off from your responsibilities. You also don’t get maternity pay. When you are back at work there is no one else to do your work if you have, for example, a sick child, so you have to squeeze in your work around these extra responsibilities.
What are the benefits of working for yourself as a mother?
Flexibility and getting to pick the hours you work. I wouldn’t enjoy working 9-5 Monday - Friday, commuting and having to put my children in childcare every day (though I know lots of people have no choice in this) I’m very grateful that I have the opportunity to keep working but not full time hours.
When did you go back to work after each of your children? What did you find positive or negative about this?
My eldest - 3 months. I found it difficult leaving her at only 3 months and was very jealous of my partner getting to stay home every day with the baby. As an employee he had much better paternity leave pay than me so it made sense for me to go back to work earlier (though I wasn’t back full time at that stage)
My youngest - 5 months. I decided I didn’t want to go back at 3 months as I hadn’t enjoyed it the first time but started back gradually from 3 months doing 1-2 days per week. I was ready to get out of house more after 5 months of leave!
What do you wish you had known before having children?
That the initial new born stage is VERY intense and you have no time at all for anything but you do gradually get more independence and time over the months, in the grand scheme of things its a very short period of time and it was best for me to just accept that I had no time at all to myself during that period (especially if you are breastfeeding). You also get really used to having very broken sleep and it becomes totally normal!
What advice would you give to other women who run their own businesses who are planning on having children?
I only really have experience of having small children so can only speak to that. I think in my experience it is easier working as a self employed person than as an employee to balance work life and being a mother than I would find if I was an employee and had to be working set hours every week. Maybe it’s bad to admit it but I would not want to be at home all day every day with my children, but equally wouldn’t want to be working full time hours so I appreciate being able to continue working and still getting time with the kids.
What are the best bits of having children?
Getting to see them develop and evolve as little people
What are the best bits of working for yourself?
Having more control over the hours you work, who you work with and the work you do
Are you planning on having anymore children?
No, 2 is definitely enough for me!