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It’s been a year since Circuit Breaker. Reflect on these #supermum stories from 2020
Tell us a little about yourself. What is your line of work? Do you have any kids?
My name is Kate Gallagher. I’m an Interior Designer and I work for myself (Kate Gallagher Interior Design). I also co-own The Assembly Hall, where we run creative workshops for individuals and small business owners. I have three boys – Harry (7), Angus (5) and Tom (18 months).How has transitioning to WFH been for you during the COVID-19 circuit breaker? How have you juggled work and kids? I have been working for myself from home ever since I had my first baby 7 years ago, so the circuit breaker hasn’t really changed much for me in that regard. Of course it’s been more of a juggle with the older kids home from school, but I’m already quite practiced at working in short spurts and being interrupted! Like most of us here in Singapore, we have an amazing helper. I don’t know what I would do without her. I home-school the kids until lunch time, and then I start work as soon as I put the toddler down for his nap, while the other two watch a movie. I try to squeeze in another hour or two of work in the afternoons but sometimes that goes pear shaped! I’m often really productive over the weekend when my husband can take over and occupy the kids.
What have been the challenges and rewards during this circuit breaker period for you and the family? I’ve really enjoyed the slower pace and not constantly rushing around to sports and activities with 3 kids in tow. Life was fun but exhausting, and the circuit breaker has made me reflect on our usual, crazy busy routine and how we might be able to slow things down once life gets back to normal again. My husband normally travels a lot for work so it’s been lovely to have him home so much too. In terms of challenges, the kids’ fighting has really escalated! I think of my boys like dogs – they need to run. A lot. I’ve had to get creative to find ways to help them release their extra energy. Some days they are literally bouncing off the walls. Thankfully we have a trampoline and a little patch of grass for them to wrestle in.
What does Mother’s Day mean to you? How will you be celebrating Mother’s Day this year? Mother’s Day makes me think of my own Mum and everything she is to me and my brothers. We are all very close to her and I hope I can have the same kind of relationship with my own kids. I’m not sure what the boys have planned for Mother’s Day. I would be perfectly happy to hide in my bed with a hot cup of tea and a non-work related book. We know you enjoy good food and cooking at home, do you have any kid friendly recipes you can share? We have a great kids recipe book called “The Good Stuff” by Lucinda Miller. The recipes are excellent for the whole family (not just kids), and we all love the Pear & Sage chicken mini burgers.