Page 26 - RADC Bulletin 2021

SSgt Rebecca Cooper
Mum to Emily (9), Josh (9) and Jack (4) SSgt Business Requirements, Army HQ
Benefits of being a serving mum
Being a serving mum definitely keeps me busy both in work and at home!! This keeps me on my toes and organised, keeping me mentally ‘in lane’ and on task. There is no time to be bored!! As we spend most of our time at work, school or in nursery, we make every second count and I really make the most of the time we do spend together. Due to postings, we have moved quite a lot and although this can be challenging for young children, Emily, Josh, and Jack have become so resilient and outgoing. They aren’t shy and have built up the confidence to settle
in new surroundings with new people. As
a parent, this makes me so proud, seeing my babies growing up into independent, confident little people that cherish their time with mummy!!!
Biggest Challenges
One of the biggest challenges I have
found is having to move my children from nursery to nursery or school to school due
to postings. As the children have got older and made friendships, in and out of school/ nursery, telling them we are moving is always difficult. They cope exceptionally well, however, I can’t help but get that feeling of dread when I know I have to tell them we are ‘packing up’ again.
Another challenge is trying to strike the right balance between work commitments and family life when events fall on the same day. For example, your child’s sports day falls on the same day as your HGAV!! Unfortunately, there will be times that you cannot attend these events which is heart breaking for both yourself and your child.
Your advice to other parents
Always be open and honest with your Chain of Command about your childcare situation. This is so important and leads to a more understanding relationship and transparency when issues do occur.
Ensure you view a wide selection of childcare providers before deciding on one and ensure the hours are suitable for your working pattern. However, don’t be afraid
to discuss your decision with your CoC if you feel that a provider is not right for your child... even if this means a slight change to
your working hours.
Leave ‘work’ at the door when you leave
at the end of the day. Don’t take work commitments home with you, enjoy the time you have with your children instead of worrying about what happened at work that day. Children don’t stay young for long and they don’t want to remember mum stressing about work or being constantly glued to her computer!!!
WO2 Cara Nichol
Mum to Liam (23) and Jared (4) Regional Practice Manager SN
Benefits of being a serving mum
I joined the Military as a single mother with the hope to provide my son Liam with a better future than the one we
had been living and to gain a career for myself with security. Under the current climate one of the benefits is job security in a world of so much unknown, this is
a stress we do not have to worry about. You are entitled to a roof over your head for you and your children and a wage packet at the end of each month.
There are other benefits available
to serving mothers such as Boarding School. Liam attended boarding school which to him was enjoyable and provided stability, this was only open to him due to my service.
I hope to have shown both of my sons the example of a good work ethic along with the strength and determination to succeed in this unpredictable world we find ourselves in.
Biggest Challenges
As I write this statement on challenges, I ask myself am I a ‘mother that is a soldier’ or am I a ‘soldier that is a mother’? Throughout my career I have constantly been told that the service must come first and family a close second. This at times has been unachievable for me. I believe
the military, as a whole, is slowly working towards inclusivity and understanding the needs of Working Mothers. This however will not alleviate the guilt you have
for leaving your child at nursery each morning or alternatively not being able
to complete the task at work due to child sickness. At times the biggest challenge we have is ourselves and not the opinions or structures around us.
Your advice to other parents
Do not think your career is over because you have had children, please remember mine only started after my first child.
Being a working mother means you learn new skills that can be transferable to the workplace such as organisation, time management, conflict resolution, communication, managing people and problem-solving. These skills have put me in good stead for career progression as these skills are what make good JNCOs and SNCOs.
My final point is you are doing an amazing job and it is okay to ask for help and advice, use the services that are open to you to make your life easier.
24 RADC BULLETIN 2021
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