Page 25 - RADC Bulletin 2021

Cpl Laura Smith
Mum to Libby (3) and stepson Tommy (5) Dental Nurse Instructor at Phase 2
Benefits of being a serving mum
Libby has become a very sociable little character, having gone to nursery from such a young age, which has made the transition between postings and her moving nursery, 3 times already, a lot easier. She has adjusted and settled into new places rather quickly. I want Libby to recognise as she grows older that having a career and children can work alongside each other quite smoothly if you manage everything right. Being in the RADC has
made parenting a lot easier, as opposed to other trades where you would be deployed a lot more and working hours not necessarily be 9 - 5. Being able to earn a full time wage also means that my partner and I can take the children to nice places when we do get the time together as a family.
Biggest Challenges
The biggest challenge for me over the last 3 and a half years has been financial, not being close to home means that Libby has to attend nursery full time which has cost an awful lot in childcare. I have also
done it alone as her dad and I separated when she was 18 months old, so not having anyone to support you or help with any of the parenting has, at times, proved difficult. I have also been to postings that have required me to do duties (current posting) which being a single parent means having to find childcare outside of normal working hours. However, having said all that, I am still serving and still managing to jump over all the hurdles that have so far been put in my way!
Your advice to other parents
Whatever goals you have set there are always ways to achieve them. It might not be simple and straight forward but that makes the challenge even more satisfying when you reach the goal! Do whatever you want to do in life and show your children that with hard work and determination anything is possible!
serving overseas. My son made good use of the ambulance service and secondary care in Cyprus!
The RADC family can be a place of real support and I have lifelong friends, past & present, made from my military career.
During the overseas assignments I was able to take advantage of the local clubs and therefore my children learnt to swim, ski, horse ride and sail.
I have seen the service conditions change and adapt over the last 20 years to become
more adaptable and commensurate with family life. This was necessary when you move often and have no extended family locally to provide support.
My career has allowed me to educate and be educated, increased my resilience, provided opportunities to challenge myself and succeed in raising 2 promising young adults.
Biggest Challenges
Education has been the single biggest issue my children and I have faced. From County divides over school starting age, term dates and breakfast club provision to subjects studied and identifying exam boards. Schools try to be helpful but moving every 2 or 3 years it is a constant concern, and this has impacted us at examination stages with my daughter moving back a year, due to syllabus content differences, prior to GCSEs.
With some roles involving responsibilities to include pastoral care and night duties it
involved lots of juggling with the childcare.
I have no end of gratitude to colleagues, friends and neighbours who stepped in to help. I cannot underestimate how important it was for me to have a flexible and trusted childminder and an effective working team who offered solutions. Not all teams have been the same and if access to childcare is limited, extended family is over 300 miles away and you have no annual leave left life can become stressful.
Your advice to other parents
You can only make a decision of what you think is right at the time.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Work life balance will go through difficult patches.
Embrace the opportunities in all the places you go and get involved.
Remember the challenges and solutions when you have subordinates facing similar circumstances.
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