Six weeks after giving birth, Stephanie faced the most complex decision of her life
By Stephanie Scicchitano|
OPINION -- I was the kind of mum-to-be that was answering emails in between contractions and taking phone calls on the way to the hospital.
I'm a do-er, as so many of us are. I don't like to keep still.
And yet, as I sat still for a moment cradling my newborn son Luca in my arms, I found myself facing one of the most complex decisions of my life.
Do I stay still with him, or go back to the race I love and return to work?
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The battle between my newfound role as a mother and my enduring passion for my professional career was fierce and more than one person told me I was crazy for thinking I could have both.
Six weeks postpartum, I made the decision. I was going back to work.
Now I'm sharing my tale of juggling diapers and deadlines, proving motherhood and a thriving career can actually coexist without setting off the chaos alarms.
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I am a very routine person with a drive to get any task done, so I knew once I had a solid routine, I would be OK.
Picture this: six weeks after the birth of my first child, sleep-deprived and sporting a messy bun that's now becoming my signature look, I stood at the crossroads of new motherhood and the enticing realm of professional ambition.
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With my adorable son Luca on one hip and a laptop bag slung over the other, I ventured into uncharted territory จC returning to work but now as the General Manager of one of the largest and most respected talent agencies in the country, Born Bred Talent.?
Now you might be wondering, 'Stephanie, are you nuts? Six weeks is barely enough time to figure out how to fasten a nappy properly!' and you know what? You're not wrong.
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But as I soon discovered, life has a knack for flinging curveballs at you and my decision to return to work early became a wild, exhilarating ride that has already taught me that motherhood and ambition are two peas in a pod จC albeit a pod that sometimes resembles a circus tent with bottles of breastmilk in every fridge.?
If there's one thing I've learned in both my career and personal life, it's that teamwork makes everything work, including parenting.
In comes the unsung hero of my story จC my husband, Andrew.?
From tag-teaming nappy changes like pros to mastering the art of the midnight bottle run, we've fast become a dynamic duo that could seriously give Batman and Robin a run for their money.
Whilst I was navigating spreadsheets and strategy meetings, Andrew was bravely tackling spit-up incidents and baby giggles.
It truly takes a village, and in our case, the village comes complete with sleepless nights, late night meetings with clients overseas and an endless supply of baby wipes.
Speaking of villages, let's talk about the powerhouse team at Born Bred Talent.
Led by the fabulous Clare Winterbourn, our CEO and Founder, this crew redefines what it means to be a supportive workplace.
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Clare and the team didn't just accommodate my return to work จC they embraced it with open arms and baby-sized enthusiasm.
Flexibility has since become my middle name and 'baby talk' wasn't just reserved for my nursery จC it became a legitimate agenda item in our meetings.
Who knew brainstorming sessions could coexist with discussions about the best time to introduce solid foods?
But let's not kid ourselves จC this journey hasn't been all rainbows and bay giggles.
The phrase 'work life balance' sometimes feels like an elaborate myth, much like the Loch Ness monster or my pre-pregnancy jeans.
There are moments when I feel like I'm on a tightrope, juggling conference calls and diaper bags with equal amounts of skill and luck.
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The occasional video call interruption by a gurgling baby, affectionately known as 'Luca's Cameo,' has since become a running gag that lightens up even the most intense discussions.?
What has kept me going, you might ask? A healthy dose of humour, a splash of determination and coffee จC thank god I'm not pregnant any more. I missed caffeine.
Some days, it feels like I'm staring in my own reality TV show with plot twists and cliffhangers that left me wondering if I'd accidentally stumble into a parallel universe.
But amid the chaos, I realised something profound. Personal growth and success don't just stem from conquering boardrooms จC they also come from mastering the art of parenting on the fly.
The beauty of this chaotic dance between motherhood and ambition is that it's anything but boring.
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Every day, I'm reminded there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and that is OK.
Some days, my victory is in conquering a mountain of emails while simultaneously burping an infant.
Other days, it's about celebrating the small wins จC like successfully matching socks after a week of them mysteriously disappearing into the laundry abyss.
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I cannot deny that I've encountered my fair share of sceptics along the way.
The raised eyebrows and well-intentioned "are you sure you're doing the right thing?" comments have become part of my narrative in recent weeks.
But let's set the record straight: Motherhood doesn't come with a one-size-fits-all manual, and that includes the chapters about professional ambition.
Every parent's journey is unique and mine just happens to be a delightful blend of spreadsheets, baby burps and the occasional dash to the office while rocking a Camilla & Marc blazer they may or may not have milk stains on it!?
So to all the mothers out there who find themselves walking the tightrope of work and parenthood, take heart.
My advice is to embrace the chaos, lean on your support system, and never underestimate the power of a sense of humour.
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Just remember, you're not alone in this delightful circus act จC there are lots of us out there learning to juggle while grinning and pretending not to have dropped a ball or two (or ten) also.
And Luca, if you ever read this someday, know that you're the star of this show, the reason for my messy bun, chic and the inspiration behind my realisation that life's most rewarding journeys are those that defy convention and lead to the sweet spot where for me, ambition and motherhood meet.?