When I first started at uni, all I had in my sights was a big corporate career; wearing a 'success' suit, earning a six figure income and having a ton of workers under my supervision, like little worker ants scurrying around and obeying my orders. Actually, I think I shared this disposition with most of my fellow business degree undergrads. Children, I thought, would factor in somewhere around 30, and I'd pop them out and return to my Big Important Corporate Career faster than you could say daycare. I started my own marketing agency to test the waters. I studied business book after business book. I dreamt of being profiled in BRW as one of the rare ones who 'had it all'.
What a load of crap.
Now, each to their own and good on you if that's what you truly want and are making it happen (and you are happy)! But about a year ago something changed in me. No longer did I want the pressures of a corporate career or to set myself up for a struggle between work and children. I would've been on my way to becoming a stressed out, overworked and miserable person. And as I got older, I wanted children younger. Like, now. Even though I'd never dream of being a stay-at-home-mum (because I'd have my Big Important Corporate Career, duh!), right now it feels like my calling. I love to work but now I'm focusing it more on working from home, establishing myself so that when children come along I can be there with them everyday and bring in a small but helpful income on the side. Surprisingly, I am also happy to step back into traditional gender roles and would prefer it if my partner was the breadwinner whilst I looked after the kids. You would never hear that come out of my mouth a few years ago.
My new ambition is to create a happy, loving family...to work a little but focus purely on happiness. Because seriously, life isn't a dress rehearsal and nobody on their death bed says they wish they'd worked more.
