Does maternity leave give women a taster for becoming stay-at-home mothers?

Office Mum photo: white wine

Why is it that more women than men stay at home with children? In 98% of families with one parent at home, it's a woman who takes that role. Assuming there isn't a secret world where stay-at-home mothers get to loll about all day in spas sipping Pinot Grigio, there must be something behind it. Here are some theories (discussed here many times ...

Office Mum stories – Barbara Scully

Office Mum interview: Barbara Scully

“Me, who had always had a title - Travel Agent, Teacher, PRO – now found myself with the title of Housewife?  And I wasn’t going to call myself that for a minute.  Only because it is a very stupid title – I never married a house” Back after the holidays, the weekly interview series resumes with ...

Office Mum stories – Mirva Walsh

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“ if you want to be a head of IT in a big, multi-million corporation, you are going to have to work very different hours than someone teaching a couple of classes in the evening time. I think if that’s your ambition, then finding time for your children will be more challenging… “ Mirva Walsh is ...

Office Mum stories – Gwen Loughman

Office Mum interview: Gwen Loughman

“Listen, I was that person who was going to have her baby on Friday night and be propped up at the bar in the pub wearing full make-up and heels on Saturday night.  Of course I was going back to work!!!” The weekly interview series is back with Gwen Loughman; a stay at home mother to four ...

Office Mum stories – Maud from Awfully Chipper

Office Mum Interview: Maud from Awfully Chipper

“The oldest story in the world: I followed a boy” This week I meet Maud, who left her native Dublin at the age of 29 and a half to live with her boyfriend in America, just for a few years. Almost eleven years, one wedding, and two children later, she's still there. She describes herself as ...

Office Mum stories: Sadhbh Devlin

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“a massive amount of guilt is assuaged for me because I am so happy that my girls are at home with their Dad” This week’s interview is with mother of two Sadhbh Devlin. Sadhbh has always been told she has a head for hats. This may be true, but in fact she only owns two actual hats, ...

So, is it easier to be at work or at home with the kids?

My coffee at work doesn

"Work is a break for me" and "Heading home now to the real job" are some of the comments I used to hear from work colleagues who were parents - this was before I had children myself, and really, I didn't believe them. Surely they were just trying to make themselves sound busier, in a ...

Office Mum stories: Laura Murray

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 " you don't have to be a SAHM to be a good parent. This is just how I can be a good parent"   This week's interview is with Laura Murray, a mum of one-and-a-bump who is at home full-time. She blogs at MyInternalWorld, and here she gives an honest picture of life as a stay-at-home mum. When I asked Laura ...

Office Mum stories: Carmel Harrington

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"I try hard not to compromise the kind of mother I want to be, by not letting work encroach on the children’s time.  But inevitably, deadlines need to be met" Next up, in this series of interviews with mothers, is Carmel Harrington, a sales manager turned stay-at-home-mother and now a published author. She is actually living the ...

Office Mum stories: Naomi Lavelle

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"I think once you become a parent, guilt is inevitable"                              "I often feel like I am present physically but trying to work on something myself while doing homework/cooking dinner etc.  I feel like I may be around my children a lot of the ...