Give a mum a job...

... and see what happens!

It occurred to me as I dashed around the house this am at terrifying speed, just what a lost opportunity some employers endure when they shy away from employing mothers on part-time or jobshare contracts. Of course, that's not in their overall HR / recruitment strategy - not written, at least. But give a mother ten minutes with a sleeping baby and see just what she can achieve.

Last night, fresh from the school run, Tilly slept in her pram long enough for me to wash up the day's (and previous night's) plates, hose down the kitchen, clean out the hamster, make the two bigger kids their lunches for the next day, de-mud the hall floor... and cook a roast dinner. Time take? Under 25 minutes.

This morning I got three kids up, dressed and breakfasted (porridge, no less), two off to school, shopping ready for tonight's invasion of little people, dinner already cooking, washing up done (again - it's never %&!ing ending!!), two loads of laundry done, two coffees drunk and this blog (maybe only partially) written... we'll see. Time check? 10 am.

Extrapolate that to the workplace and you're in for a winner! I'm lucky I have an awesome employer in this arena - but I'm very well aware of many who aren't so fortunate.

Two arms, a clear(ish) head and an undefined, yet short, period of time, can yield great things!! Right, I'm off to enjoy my next coffee before the inevitable screech that brings me back to a grinding halt again!