1. How old are your twin boys now?​​​

They are nine and a half months old.

2. How has motherhood been treating you so far?

It is intense. Three days into motherhood, it dawned on me that the term "alone time" will become a memory I will cherish for the next 18 years. I was ill prepared for the unconditional love that hits you seconds after you first hold your newborn babies. Then there is the sleep deprivation! The first week into this gig transformed me into a zombie. I now understand why in some countries, sleep deprivation is the most severe form of torture. ​

3. How has been back at work been?

I'm having conflicting emotions about being back at work. When I get into my car on a Monday morning at 6:20, I sing along to the chorus of "Hallelujah" – because my car is quiet, and no one is climbing on me. Then, 30 minutes later I am texting the nanny, asking if they are ok. It can get hectic when a little one is sick because of the demands at work. Lately, it has been very tough for me to stay at work beyond 16:30 because I only spend two hours in the afternoon with them during the week. I get upset and stressed if that time is cut short so coming home late is just plain hard for me. I have this 'working mom guilt' – I feel like I have to be there for them.

4. As the manager of one of our successful branches, what are the biggest lessons you have learnt so far when it comes to having a work-life balance?

I don't check my emails between 16:00 and 18:30. When I am home with them during the week, work stuff can wait for two hours. I had to learn to trust my nanny who has strong mommy instincts. I try my best to still spend time with my husband when the babies are asleep at night, usually, we are both pretty exhausted but we try to watch something on TV together (after we first argue and negotiate what to watch).

5. What makes your branch so successful?

I have a very strong core team.

6. How do you continue to grow and develop your branch?

We have added some new talent to my core team, we try to be a differentiating IT recruitment agency by coming up with creative solutions for our clients.

7. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

I have a quick 10 - 15 minute read on my kindle or do some mindless Instagram scrolling, 

8. Besides being a mother, what is one personal highlight you've had over the past year?

It has to be achieving over R2 million target in February 2017 for the first time.

9. Name three things you cannot get through your day without? 

Chocolate, Coffee and phone.

10. Do you think motherhood has made you a better manager? 

Tricky question. In some ways, I am more understanding towards the moms that are employed by me. It has made me more determined to reach my branch's sales goals than ever before, as I will be in a better position to provide for my children if I do. In other ways, I am sometimes unavailable and I feel bad about it. I do think it is a phase that all new moms go through.

11. What advice would you give mothers who work in a high sales driven environment?

Get your support network sorted out! My parents are both in Durban, so I have a live-in nanny. She has given me tremendous peace-of-mind. 

Lara Rea is the Branch Manager at Network Recruitment

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