Your Old Is My New
Nov 2 · 3 min read

This is me. I’ve been hiding behind a keyboard for the past few months as and this is why…….

Almost a year ago to the day I applied for a course hoping that not only would I be accepted but I would be able to find the funding as I just couldn’t afford it.

I’d quit my job as a hospitality manager after my son was born as the reality was I couldn’t go back to the job that I loved as there was no flexible working hours, childcare was far to expensive and I had no choice but turn to the benefits system for help.

I faced the prospect of being on benefits until my son was of an age where childcare was funded, retraining in a completely new sector or trying to find that illusive 9–5 Monday – Friday job that everyone spoke of.

Interview after interview I seemed to come up against the same pitfalls, no flexible working hours that would allow me the time to drop my son off and pick him up from nursery, I wasn’t skilled enough even though I possessed many transferable skills from previous roles and the real kicker was the same question that seemed to pop up ‘so what is it your partner does’ to which my response was always an honest one ‘ I am a solo parent without a partner’!

So when I saw an ad on my Instagram about a course for mums that was run by woman, that offered flexible working, the potential to earn as much if not more than I did pre-motherhood and would give me back my confidence I knew It was for me. I completed my application and to my surprise I got a place. with Digital Mums on a Social Media Management course but the joy was short lived when I realised that in fact I couldn’t afford it.

It was back to the drawing board, more interviews, more rejections and no job. As the months went on my confidence got less and less and was beginning to resign myself to the fact that until my son was eligible for his funded nursery hours I wasn’t going to be returning to the workplace in any capacity and that was a devastating blow.

I can’t believe I almost missed it — I was scrolling through my emails and there it was a funded place through a partnership with Studio and Digital Mums offering 20 mums who had been out of the work place for 2 years or longer the chance to apply for the course I had missed out on almost 6 months previous. I created my video submission and was one of the lucky 20 to be given the golden ticket. It was just like I imagined Charlie Bucket felt in Willy Wonka.

If you have liked, followed, commented, messaged and been a part of my journey that I can’t thank you enough and I hope that this isn’t the end. Something that started as an assignment has become a part of my life and I’m looking forward to continuing to create and post content and build on the friendships I made up until this point once the course ends.

From the bottom of my heart – Thank you 🖤

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