I was thinking (again) this weekend about life before kids and pondering what I'd have been doing on a Sunday morning 10 years ago.
For a start I'd have had a lie-in followed by a long, hot shower, a leisurely breakfast and then a day of gentle pottering. Instead we were up early, and out into the cold to continue our attempts to get Amy riding her bike without stabilisers (a bit of a thankless task at the moment!). Overall, it was a ruthlessly demanding weekend without any relaxation time but, all things considered, I'd definitely rather be here today as a full-time Mum, part-time knitter than back as a working girl.
I had my kids quite late in life but having kids late gave me time to 'throw myself into a career'. My second 'proper job' was as Advertising Manager at Hali magazine. This is one of the world's most exclusive magazines. When I worked there it retailed at £18 per copy (the equivalent of a hardback book) and came out 6 times a year. It was and I believe still is the be-all-and-end-all in antique textiles, ranging from oriental rugs, Navajo blankets, pre-Columbian textiles, Swedish marriage tapestries and everything in between – basically if it's textile and old it's been written about in Hali. During the 4 years that I worked there I had a fabulous time. I travelled throughout Europe and the USA attending antique fairs, major auctions, museum previews, private viewings and visiting clients. I also got to see an incredible history of the world through it's textile art. It's worth checking out the Hali site just for the inspiration, and follow the links to see where they take you.
I do have some happy memories of my time there and being in close contact with such beautiful textile art profoundly influenced me. I now have a bookshelf full of books on pre-Columbian mantles, Ottoman textiles, Moroccan carpets and Anatolian kilims, rugs on my wooden floors, salt bags on my walls and a 5 foot wide, home-made copy of a thousand year old pre-Columbian chancay textile (well, we can't afford the real thing and anyway I believe that the originals should be in museums in the country of origin and not on the wall of those individuals rich enough to buy a country's heritage!)
So, given the chance, would I turn back the clock and reclaim my lazy Sunday mornings? Would I hell! I could definitely use a lie-in now and then and it's no understatement that being a parent is the hardest job in the world but, it's still the best!
little cotton rabbits 
Wow, what a job to have had. I must admit I have never heard of the magazine but will have to investigate now. I was an elderly primagravida at 29 and Jamie will be 18 next Monday! Gosh I feel old. :))
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Sounds like an amazing job. I went to the Hali Fair at Olympia last year. We buy a lot of antique textiles for our clients. I find them absolutely facinating.
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Wow, what a job, sounds excellent 🙂
It is funny what you should say about the age you had Amy, as this is an ongoing discussion amongst my friends, ie when is the best time to have kids?
Should it be early, like 20 to 22, so you have can have a career/life after the rearing of your children, or wait until your late 30’s early 40’s so you have a career/life before?
I’m not sure, as we went for the middle ground, as soon as we had bought a house, and could afford to live on one income….hmmmm, that was then, and now….. not so easy!
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Have the children when it’s the right time, of course! I planned to have mine at 27, 29 and 31, instead of which I ended up 2 years later with them all. Would I go back to life BC? No, but then I’ve just had a weekend off with lie-ins, so I’m still in the rose-tinted spectacles, no midnight wake ups and early morning face-whacks at the morning. Ask me on Friday.
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I’m certainly agree, being a mother is the best job in the world.
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It sounded like I was listening to myself. Only 4 years at home for me since my career and it is tough at times (with 2 pre-schoolers) being an at home mum, part time designer but I love it to death and the thought of going back to my full-time computer programming days – ARGGGGGGh! I sometimes wonder what will be when they both go off to school but I really hope that my designing will be something I do more of and hope that the office does not beckon! (but yes – Sunday sleep ins do sound awfully appealing) Good luck with the bike lessons =)
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Wow that job sounds facinating. I am in my first month staying at home ( having been made redundant) and enjoying the time with the children, baking and finger painting beat meetings hands down! Don’t know what the future will hold for me, perhaps that money tree will grow at the bottom of the garden and then I can stay at home for a few years.
Hope you get a few Sunday lie ins!
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oops…did I say the wrong thing?! What I’m trying to say, is that for alot of people, nothing will all be right at the same time, so in our case, what started off right went belly up quite quickly!!!
Does that make sense?!?
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I’m glad I’m not the only one struggling to teach my child to ride a bike without stabilisers!
Your old job sounds fascinating but of course your new job(s) are much more rewarding (Kids and knitting)!
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That was an interesting post. I know just how you feel ablout the Sunday morning thing. How our lives change when we have children. It sounds like you have some great memories, what a fab. job, would love to read more about it.
Suzie Sews
PS My child only just got of his stabilisers before Christmas (he is seven) there is no stopping him now though, I nearly have a break down everytime he goes out on his bike.
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Those rugs are so lush.
Sleep ins, what are they? As a parent I now understand where wrinkles and grey hairs come from! My friends without kids look 10 years younger!
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What a job, how did you ever give that up? The closest I get to that is watching Antiques Roadshow religiously every night at 5 o’clock!
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