“Now is the hardest time to be a mother since the Second World War”.
Gabor Mate MD
Hello loves,
This week we have our VERY first community GUEST post… we are so excited to share this with you.
We’ve had several people complete the short Google Form.
We plan to start working through them and will post the responses in order of their arrival!
We’d love to invite you to write for us too. We are keen to encourage a diverse range of mothers and experiences here and have made it very easy for you to contribute. If you would like to write a guest post for us here at head here to answer three simple questions.
If you’d like to write us a longer piece on the topic of being, balance and/ or business in motherhood you can email us on companyoftwouk@gmail.com
Company of Two and You with Sarah Robertson
“I think I lost myself for a while, but motherhood gave me the chance to create a business that felt more like home.”
Sarah–a brand designer and creative mentor over at These are the Days–recently launched a side project on Substack, which is dedicated to navigating the seasons in our independent businesses and creative practices.
She enjoys spending time on Instagram and would love to connect with you there.
encouraged Sarah onto Substack and she set up an account just a few weeks before giving birth in June.When did you become a mum and how long have you had a company of one and what do you do within it?
I first became a mum at 30. At the time, I was running a digital design studio alongside my partner, Jonathan.
Since then, I’ve set up These Are The Days, a business dedicated to branding design, which is in its third year. Collaborating with clients to define their vision, craft beautiful visuals and discover their voice is at the heart of what I do and I’m so glad I narrowed my focus and followed my passion for brand strategy, styling and storytelling!
How has having children impacted your work flow, creativity, your inspiration and your ability to manage your work?
Having my daughter significantly impacted my life and work. When I discovered I was pregnant, my values seemed to shift overnight.
I had been in business for almost a decade and knew I needed to shape my lifestyle in a way that would better support me and my wee family.
It took years for me to reach a point where I felt safe enough to take the leap and try something new though. Fear held me back in so many ways. And there was the not so small matter of facing fertility challenges when trying to grow our family. But I’m so glad I eventually setup These Are The Days.
The kinds of projects I work on, and the kinds of clients I work with, are so supportive of my pace and happy to take a gentle and playful approach to branding and design.
What advice would you give to a mum just about to start their journey with balance, being and business in motherhood?
Balance is something I find hard to achieve, but I believe I can attain something close to it if I listen to my body and make heart-led decisions.
I suppose that’s very closely linked with the idea of ‘being’, which for me means finding stillness and grounding myself in the simple things, and letting go of the high expectations I often place on myself.
I also believe it’s important to have fun! If these are my foundations in life, I believe it can lead to doing more meaningful work, which in turn will help me nurture my family.
When looking for a photo for this piece, I was keen to share one from a recent brand shoot where I felt free.
A sense of creative freedom is such an important part of running your own business and building something based on your own terms is so liberating.
I think I lost myself for a while, but motherhood gave me the chance to create a business that felt more like home.
Thanks so much to Sarah for guesting for us here. You can find her Substack here at
- do go support her - she has wonderful plans for her space there.Sarah’s currently on mat leave but we believe looking to work with clients again towards the end of the year…
Over to you…checking in…
How are you all this week? I (Claire) have had a tough one. There have been tears (me), tantrums (Luna) and more tears (both of us). I’m really ready for a summer break. We have some lovely plans and I’m excited for slower days and trying to pull back a routine. The past two nights Luna has decided to have a bed time nap and then be up until 11.30pm. 🥴 It’s been hard. Dave’s had a blip in his health (it’s to do with energy accounting)… all in all it’s probably been the hardest week of motherhood/ life in a while.
It feels like I had everything thrown at me at once and I must shout out to my writers group at
’s Heart Leap as my two writing hours a week keep me grounded and steady. I loved this drawing from Sketchy Mumma this week and realised part of the difficultly of this time of year is that push/ pull of being desperate for a summer break but also anxious as to how it’s all going to work.Ticking off buying all the school uniform for September has been a massive win for me this week and given me a sense of calm somehow - I do this every year - I’d really recommend it. UK folk - M&S have 20% off at the minute. Easing into the weekend gently, having some fun at my son’s friend’s party and moving a pond in our allotment garden (we hope). 🧐 🥰
I (Laura) feel very much in limbo. I am waiting to hear if I have a very part-time role in education in September alongside my Company of One, and let’s just say the process has been… turbulent. The kids are very “end-of-term-y” and I feel like there’s a big question mark constantly hovering over my head as I contemplate September. OK, I wrote this earlier in the week, and found out yesterday that the only reason I didn’t get the job (which was in a school) was that “the dynamics wouldn’t work in the department…and I think I’m making a mistake…” (I quote the Head here).
It’s so funny the choice of words: Claire and I were talking about how we thought the energetics and dynamics of the place would be wrong for me, and then those words are mirrored back. Still damn annoyed I didn’t get it, but also excited. Essentially, I’m feeling all the emotions at the moment, and one of the best ways I deal with that is by being online infrequently. That said, I’m delighted to have this space to show up in a truly honest and vulnerable way.
Claire came across this article from powerhouse mother and business owner Holly Tucker and we thought you might enjoy it.
Holly is very honest about ‘over working’ and where she tries to find balance. We love her Friday emails: they are well worth signing up for to stay inspired at the close of your week.
Building this community is such a joy and we are so keen to hear your voices in it. If you haven’t seen this post Company of Two - and you!
We invite you to contribute to our shared world via three simple questions in a google form.
Please don’t do that society-induced thing expected of women (and mothers) and think “who wants to hear what I have to say?” WE DO.
You are not meant to do this alone. Those feelings you have: we’ve had them too. In the thick of it right now? We see you and we send support, love and a gentle sunshine energy your way. Get outside today if you can. Drink the water.
Call a friend, or do comment here.
With love as ever,
Laura and Claire
x
Our Sponsors here at Company of Two
These mother led small businesses supported our pilot episodes and the building of this community for you. We are so grateful for their support and especially to
for the beautiful illustrations.You can find all their amazing details in this post:
Please check out their businesses if you have time and follow them online to support their work as they have supported us.
Thank you lovely ones! Hugs to you both after an intense week... it’s been similar for me even though I’m on ‘holiday’... loved reading Sarah’s words too! Adore the work you are doing. X
Beautifully honest post. I’m inspired to join in and will return to some writing this week ✨
Looking after small people, in the heat, in the holidays is a lot. I mirror back that what we need is deep compassion and empathy for one another. And to help each other along the path...motherhood can be so lonely (in my experience) and having a health condition that means you have to stay in or local doesn’t help that. So grateful for an online spaces like this.
Wishing you, and your families, a peaceful start to a new week 🌹