Last weekend saw more than 12,000 parents take to the streets in the ‘March Of The Mummies’.
A national protest aimed at demanding Government reform on childcare, parental leave and flexible working. Protests took place across the country in 11 locations at 11am on Saturday, October 29, organised by the campaigners Pregnant Then Screwed.
These are the UK’s main parenting campaigners, whose main aims are to achieve good quality affordable childcare for all children, flexible working as the default, as well as ring fenced, properly paid parental leave.
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The UK is still far behind most other western countries. We have the second most expensive childcare system in the world, due to years of underfunding from our Government. We have the third worst ranking maternity pay, and the least generous paternity leave, in Europe. Mothers face a pay penalty of 45% lower earnings in the six years after giving birth.
The government show no signs of implementing change from the inside, so how are parents currently adapting their lives to cope? Personally, I paid at least £100 per week into childcare for 12 years, until the pandemic hit. The industry I worked in (legal) was notoriously inflexible back in 2010. But other parents have found ingenious ways to adapt their ability to make money, and work around raising their children.
Vikki Wren, a Personal Trainer, and Nutrition coach, struggled to balance her career in banking with the necessary childcare, when she returned to work after her first maternity leave 10 years ago. Vikki explains: "Before I worked in a gym, I worked in business banking for around 10 years.
"When I had my daughter, I returned to banking two days a week. Nursery was so expensive; it was never really an option for us. My mum and my mother-in-law would each have the kids one day each week, so I could work.
"But you know what it’s like when kids are sick, they just want their mum. So, I would either take holidays or unpaid leave to look after them when they needed me.
"I’d always feel so guilty about being off work when I only worked part time already! I was constantly worried about losing my job. Even though the bank had been flexible and helped as much as they could, it soon became clear that working two days a week wasn’t working for us, financially.
"I figured there must be another way. I’ve always absolutely loved exercise, so I paid for a private course to become a Personal Trainer. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done! It’s hard work and long hours, but it means I can do the school runs and earn money. That's just not an option with a lot of careers today."
But Vikki has to put the effort in, to make the job work around her family. She says: "On a typical day, I get up every day at 5.15am to get to my clients at the gym for 6am. I’ll work until 8am and then rush back home to make sure the kids are ready and take them to school.
"After the school run, I rush back to work for 9.30am and train clients until 3pm, before I pick them up again. Now that both children are in school, I can work five days a week and fit my work around their needs. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I return to the gym when my husband gets home from work, and train clients from 5pm to 8pm.
"Even though I love the gym, it’s still hard juggling work with the kids. I have a five-year-old and a 13-year-old now. Childcare and nursery fees just add so much stress to your life. That’s why I always make sure my clients know they’re welcome to bring their babies into the gym with them, while they train.
"Motherhood can be a lonely time and lots of parents don’t have family nearby for help and support. It’s very common for parents of small children to be battling major anxiety and/or depression. That’s why all the Personal Trainers at @harrietmcguffies, where I'm based, are all fully qualified in pre and post natal exercise and nutrition. Harriet also does parent and baby classes at the gym, which is a great way for local parents to meet each other and interact, socially.
"I have been a PT for just under 10 years now and I just love helping people and making them feel good about themselves. Being a PT usually comes with a 'therapist' badge too and fortunately I love talking and listening.
"People think gyms can be snobby and intimidating but ours really isn’t. All the PTs I know genuinely care about people and want to help - that's why we do it." You can contact Vikki on Instagram to find out more about her services.
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