In conversation with Mary Aldridge
1.Introduce yourself
I’m Mary Aldridge and I’m a producer and extremely proud mum of four.
2. What is your job title?
I am a Film and TV producer and managing director of Storm Media.
3. Who looks after the kids when you are working?
I come at this from a different perspective as my kids are grown up now. Our youngest two are in their first year at uni and so for me, I’m able to look back at the trials and tribulations of balancing childcare and work with a bit more of a sense of humour now and a more rational view. At the time it was far from that!
Juggling four kids and having worked in both a full-time capacity and then running my own business, was extremely challenging. I always said it was like regimenting an army!
Having people you can rely on and trust was, for me, absolutely paramount. Without that, I simply couldn’t have focussed on my job.
Over the years, we have had childminders, nannies, and au pairs at different stages, which worked well. I feel I could write the book on that! My husband is a writer/director and like me, often has to be away, and so when our twins came along, we decided that when they got to a certain age, we’d ensure that one of us was always with them, holding the fort at home, albeit also trying to work! With four children, that was a complex scheduling exercise, but I’m extremely fortunate that my husband was so hands-on, so it was very much a shared role, which made a huge difference.
When our twins began nursery and then school, we reverted to our childminder and after-school clubs, which were invaluable.
4. How long did you take off work after having your baby?
After my first, about 6 months, and about 9 months with my second, although I was freelance at the time and so you’re never really 'taking time off' in those circumstances. After our twins were born, a little bit longer.
5. Would you say you have a good work/life balance?
When the kids were young, probably not. I’m not sure how that’s possible, particularly if you’re freelance/self-employed or run your own business. You can never switch off. Even now I don’t think I strike that balance well!
6. What do you think is the hardest part of being in the media/film/TV industries and being a parent?
The hours, the commitment to work that’s required to succeed and stay connected in the industry, above and beyond many other industries - and the necessity of being away from your family and children. That’s really tough. Although we have been known to take all four kids with us on location too - but that’s another story!
7. What are your tips for any other women out there wanting to have kids and keep a career in film?
Have an excellent, robust and trustworthy childcare/support network around you with a reliable back-up, because inevitably, nothing always runs smoothly and that peace of mind, for me, was critical when a schedule was unexpectedly changed, or the traffic was a nightmare or trains were cancelled. Don’t be too hard on yourself trying to be master of everything. Cut yourself some slack and have an open dialogue with your boss/colleagues so they know you are juggling children. No matter how much you plan and are immaculately organised, certain things are out of your control and those early years can test your stress levels, but the rewards are worth it.
8. Any advice for anyone about to return to work after maternity?
Test your childcare for a few weeks before returning to work. But before you do that, try and spend extended periods doing something else yourself, away from your baby in order to get yourself accustomed to being apart. I think often the separation is harder on the mum/dad, than the baby! Then make sure you have peace of mind that your childcare is going to be reliable and that your child is where you want them to be. Be sure that he/she is happy and you are happy with the arrangements and the people caring for them.
Be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up or feel guilty about being back at work. Many kids, as they get older, respect you more for having a career and learn to respect your time more.
9. What advice do you wish someone had given you?
Delegate more!
Twitter: @MACAldridge
Website: www.stormmediaproduction.com