It would be remiss of me in this week of celebrating women, not to give a shout out to my ex-husband.
Yes, you read that right.
I’m a very busy working mum. I’ve worked since I was 14 years old. The jobs have been diverse. I wasn’t always the MD of an outstanding full service communications agency. I measured kids’ feet at Barratt Shoes. I stood for hours on end in the men’s fitting rooms at C&A, serving customers. I’ve pulled more pints than Bet Lynch. The pinnacle was putting glacier cherries on Christmas cakes one summer at Matthew Walker Puddings. Let me tell you, that sticky cherry juice travels from your hands, down your arms, into your bra and then down further at a rapid pace.
I’ll celebrate 20 years in this current role next year. In those two decades, I’ve been married, lost a much loved brother to cancer, had two children and divorced.
My biggest supporter in the 20 years has been my ex-husband Pete. He’s the one with a key to my house who recovers lost PE kit. He shares the drop offs and the pickups. He scoops them up when I’m stuck in a meeting or pitching for business at odd hours and in odd locations. He does just as much, cooking, cleaning and counselling of children as I do.
We do all of the above whilst being blissfully happy with new partners and extended families.
Pete and I are a team and always will be while our children need us.