Juggling a career and motherhood is no easy task and here, our very own Liliana McDonnell, Financial Controller in our Jersey office, shares how she balances her role at Belasko with her most important job of all—being a mummy…
Being a full-time working mum isn’t an easy task but being blessed with my beautiful toddler (who is 3 years old) and knowing I’m able to give her the best possible start in life, makes me extremely grateful.
Here’s a little glimpse into an average day in our lives…
Rise and shine!
Most weekdays start with a 5-6am wake-up — I’m definitely a morning person! My brain feels the sharpest and I have the most energy first thing in the morning (plus, those early bedtime snuggles with my little one are something I live for).
I try to make it to the gym at least three times a week (though life doesn’t always cooperate). On the days my husband does the nursery drop-off, I lay out my daughter’s clothes the night before to make the mornings run smoother. More often than not, both of them are still fast asleep when I leave for my early start so I give them each a kiss before heading out the door.
In the office before 8am
Having the flexibility to work 8-4 instead of the traditional 9-5 means I can get into the office early (there’s nothing more productive than a quiet office!) and leave before the 5pm rush if I’m on the nursery pick-up duties.
My day always starts with a peppermint tea (yes, even before coffee!). Once I’m logged on, my first priority is reviewing the team calendar and workload to ensure we’re on track with any upcoming or due deliverables. After a quick catch-up with my boss to flag any potentially urgent matters, I always make time to check in with the team, ensuring they are happy with their deliverables for the day before diving into my own work
Busy day in the office!
My workdays absolutely fly by! Working in a busy, challenging environment allows me to thrive, there’s absolutely no time for clock-watching, and before I know it, it’s time to log off and switch off for the day.
Nursey pick-up…
No matter how many pick up’s I’ve done, I’m always just as excited as the very first one to grab my little one, she is a full-on mummy’s girl and regularly reminds me, “You’re my best friend, Mummy.” It’s the little moments like these that make all the hard work worth it!
After lots of excitement and cuddles, we say goodbye to her friends and head home. We’re extremely lucky to live by the sea, with a beautiful marina just steps away from our door. On lighter evenings, we love taking a walk along the coast. My little one adores seeing all the boats, and a well-deserved ice cream treat after her busy day at nursery. It is hard work being a three-year-old!
5-5.30pm — Home time
This is where the evening madness begins! I’m the sole cook in the house, so while my husband is making his way home, I’m juggling dinner prep and bath-time planning.
My husband is usually home by 5.30pm and takes over bath duties while I dive into full chef mode. I absolutely love cooking and find it therapeutic (most of the time, anyway!).
6pm — Dinner time
Yes, we like to eat early in our house. Our little one tends to enjoy a second dinner with us (she’s a foodie like her Mama!) and loves filling us in on her day, usually involving lots of arts and crafts and a story or two (featuring a mermaid or a unicorn).
6.30/7pm — Time for bed
As a very busy three-year-old, bedtime comes early and it includes a good book (or four!). Our little bookworm has quite the collection, and with her love of mermaids, there’s guaranteed to be at least one mermaid tale in the mix.
I usually handle bedtime, it’s honestly my favourite part of the day. After my husband gives his goodnight cuddles, it’s time for me and my exhausted little love to snuggle up until she drifts off into dreamland.
Time out…
Once my little one is fast asleep, it’s time for some much-needed grown-up time with my husband. We catch up on our day, but mostly, we end up chatting about our daughter’s day and all her adventures!
I love to wind down with a good book (I’m a sucker for a thriller!) and, although I do enjoy a little social media scroll, I try to be strict with myself and prioritise reading before bed. Meanwhile, my husband gets his football fix (I’ll happily give that a miss).
Bedtime
I’m rarely awake past 10pm — beauty sleep is essential! After a final check on my little sleeping beauty (and a few extra kisses while trying not to wake her!), I’m off to bed to re-energise and reset before we do it all again tomorrow, good night!
Hats off to all the working parents out there – you are absolute superheroes! Balancing careers, family life, and everything in between isn’t easy, but we do it and we do it with a smile (and the occasional wine or five!!).
Author: Liliana McDonnell, Financial Controller, Jersey
