The life of a mother and licensee
I worked up until one week before Evelyn was born, and returned a week after, but this job has never exactly been 'by the book'. On one hand it's hardly an appropriate job with unsociable hours, working with alcohol, constantly noisy and not always child friendly.
On the other, it's an industry that provides you with a flexibility to set your own hours and as I have just discovered, it gives me a great chance to be on my maternity leave as well as working as much or little as I want. This is perfect for someone with my personality, hands on and in control. I never wanted to be a stay at home mum.
A typical day now for me is all about Evelyn but when it comes down to working and organisation for the pub, she's with me all the way. I have meetings with her sleeping on the sofa and sometimes even whilst I'm feeding her ( as long as the other person doesn't mind!)
I consider myself lucky. I work for a company that has given me the flexibility to work my own hours with Evy in mind. I also have three assistant managers who are doing a great job in my absence and constantly updating me.
I would absolutely hate it if I had a job where I would have felt forced to take a full maternity leave and someone else would have been put in place to take over my job for those months. Every woman is different and their decisions should be their own, but this works for me.
Being on leave has given me a new perspective on the bar and the people working in it, this is essential in re-evaluating what's needed and how to improve business.
I have concerns about when Evy's older and more mobile, child care is always an issue, but I have time to adjust and hopefully make a relatively smooth transition.
In many ways motherhood has inspired me to work harder, be more ambitious and set an example for my little daughter that anything is possible. I had so many fears about how pregnancy would affect my life, especially my work life but I decided that it was going to be a positive experience and so it has been.
Being in the hospitality industry certainly helps. And I hope as I progress in my career I am still able to combine work and private life in the same way I have been able to do so far.
- Mahdis Neghabian is manager of the Camden Eye, London, and BII Licensee of the Year 2012
