Natasha Heger had been with the company she worked at for 10 years before she went on parental leave, and just the day before she was originally due to return, she was made redundant.
What followed was a longer than anticipated break from the workforce and a search for a new role, but this time, not just as Natasha, but as mum, too. Not one to settle for any old role - which is such a common experience for mothers who feel like they don't have much choice - she was set on finding a workplace that understood and valued the work of a mother. And as someone who admits to having some dark moments in motherhood, she's incredibly candid when she reflects on those early days.
Here, we talk about why she wasn't sure she wanted children, what happened when she was made redundant, how she went about finding paid work, and how she - even as a mother who engages in full time paid work - finds the time to look after herself and her health.
As you'll hear, this one was recorded when I was pregnant and I've learned so much listening back.
---
THIS WEEK'S PARTNER
This episode of Ready or Not is brought to you by THE INARRA, a premium online shopping and lifestyle publication tailored for pregnancy, motherhood, and beyond.
Re-defining how modern mothers consume content, THE INARRA offers a diverse range of features, interviews, and fashion edits that cater to every stage of motherhood while celebrating individual style and identity. And today, we're bringing our Witching Hour listeners a special offer, as THE INARRA gets ready to launch their styling services.
To claim 30% off a styling experience that can be done virtually or in-person in Sydney and is specifically tailored to those who are pregnant, postpartum or just struggling to define their style as a mother, email hello@theinarra.com and mention Ready or Not
---
Thanks for listening to Ready or Not! If you liked the show, please tell your friends, subscribe or write a review.
You can also find us on Instagram at readyornot.pod
This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurong people of the Kulin Nation. The land on which we're lucky enough to raise our sons and daughters always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
We Pay The Rent and you can too here.
Public triumphs and private heartbreaks: Collective Hub founder Lisa Messenger on disrupting the publishing industry and her eight-year conception journey
Australian Birth Stories host and mother Sophie Walker on building a hit podcast, the pressure of being the breadwinner and letting her husband learn things his way
Navigating hyperemesis, working with a newborn, her husband's cancer diagnosis and a pregnancy loss with Think Thornbury owner Maggie May Moshe
Author and journalist Melanie Dimmitt’s life changed when her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. But, her story isn't a sad one
Midwife and mother of four Erin Phibbs on birth trauma, the most challenging transition, and what her husband learned from taking full-time parental leave
Writer Alexandra Collier woke up with a ravenous hunger for a baby. Her partner did not
Pumping on the streets of New York and Chilli Heeler as an icon with magazine legend Justine Cullen
Daycare Diaries 2.0: A good week, an average week, and a hot tip live from the car
Max Jahufer on always being the different kid, his upcoming role in a trans film and navigating parenting after long work days
Daycare Diaries: The dreaded first drop off, colds, gastro, and the best bits
Anna Commons on raising her nonverbal autistic son and creating work that feeds her passions as well as her family
Scrambling to do the best we can and being where you are when you're there with Lael Stone
Carrying a heavy load and corner office breakdowns with Mekanism Chief Strategy Officer Ambika Gautam Pai
Feeling guilty no matter what we do and calling in your village with Jessica Prescott & Vaughne Geary
Nobody has it all with Chief Commercial Officer Danika Johnston
Writing emails while tapping the bouncer and navigating two businesses, a son and a stepson with Phoebe Simmonds
Why you don't have to love every second of mothering to love motherhood with perinatal counsellor & mother Gemma Smith
BONUS Q&A: Breastfeeding and returning to work with Shterna Glick
Navigating work trips as a mother of two, letting go in order to share the load and the need for flexibility with Amy Bradshaw
What happens to your career and identity when you lose your own mother? With Jaala Alex
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution
Dr. Laura Call of the Day
Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
Just So Stories
The Count of Monte Cristo
Calm Parenting Podcast
Good Inside with Dr. Becky