And don't get me wrong I loved both of my careers with equal passion. And this carried on for just under three years until? The fateful day I was awarded 'Blog of the Year' and twerked myself into a wheelchair. Seriously. I twerked and within a week couldn't walk. And remained like this for three months. I was bed bound for the majority of it and I started to realise something. Despite being ever so poorly I ironically wasn't as stressed. I had time to do homework with my daughter when she sat next to my bed. I managed to watch box sets of programmes I had always wanted to see and I slept (OK that was probably the heavy opiates) but I slept really well.
No clue within the week? I wouldn't be able to walk...
Thoughts starting creeping in my head about what it would be like to not have to do two jobs. To be able to focus on one. Suddenly having the ability of doing the school run taken away from me meant that I craved it even more. I wanted to be at home. These thoughts got stronger when I received the news that my right leg may never get better. It works at 50% capacity. I can drive but when I walk it is slower and stairs are a right bugger. How would I cope in a busy secondary school? Could I realistically keep up with being a blogger and a teacher? As well as showing my two beauts the attention they deserve.
So? My little secret is? That I gave up my teaching job. I never fully returned to work due to a paperwork issue (v boring) but at the end of this term. I am no longer a teacher. Three days a week I will be working on my blog and YouTube channel and the other two I will be looking after my son who is in pre-school. And I am TERRIFIED that my wonderful followers and readers won't like me as much anymore. I'm worried that you will think I jacked in a perfectly good career to do, well let's be honest, a bit of a shallow one. Teaching GCSE to disadvantaged kids is not quite the same as doing a Primark Haul is it?
Trying to get 'normal' Mums represented by big brands
But what I hope you understand is this. Since starting the blog I have always gone out of my way to champion the 'normal' woman. The one who can be a bit crap, likes cake, loves gin and ADORES their kids. I work on it 365 days a year. I get messages every day from women who say "oh my god I'm so glad it's not just me". It's not always easy and I have horrible messages of hate. The world still isn't quite ready for women to laugh at Motherhood. We are meant to be perfect. But? I'm not perfect. My life will never be perfect. And I could be making a terrible decision but I will always have my teaching certificate and I will always have the weird ability to get on with teenagers really well.
So? I have to give a try. If my twerking incident has taught me anything is that the rug can be pulled from under you at any given moment. One day you're doing a dance like the youth the next you're wetting the bed. I'm really excited about what the future holds. I want to really invest in helping Mums. Whether it be by writing honest posts, making people laugh or getting more and more of you to the brummymummymeetups. I get it if you now think I'm a bit of a disappointment but I hope you don't judge me too harshly.
Lots of Love
Em xxx
To answer "well how the bloody hell will she make a living?" questions: I have worked with brands for over three years. I choose them wisely and more often than not if you are reading this from my Facebook Page you won't have seen many reviews as I tell brands I won't post them on there. I also make a lot of brand videos on YouTube. I'm the face of McNuggets you know! I also have saved a years worth of wages in case it all goes tits up! Fingers crossed it won't...xxx
How on earth could people think you were a disappointment for making a decision that's best for you and your family. Everything happens for a reason and twerking yourself into a wheelchair was clearly the little nudge you needed to redress the balance. Teaching will still be there if you need it, if you miss it. But in the meantime, well done for being brave and taking that leap! x x x
ReplyDeleteAw Em, you'll be absolutely fine! You'll smash it I'm sure but wishing you the very best of luck (and I am insanely jealous and might have to join you one day!) xx
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best of luck but I'm sure you son't need it.
ReplyDeleteI already knew about you giving up your job....hehehe Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter gave it away in her vlog. lol
Good on you!!! We only get one life and like u say if things go wrong you can go back to teaching! However i have a feeling you may never teach again! Get the disappointment out your head right now lady and any negative stuff you get is just people jealous now you have it all. You get to do everything you want with your children and do something you are passoinate about. Basically it sounds like heaven! Good luck but i doubt you need that!!! You are a normal mum who also inspires people!
ReplyDeleteYay for you spending more time for your family and doing something you love. Your r fans are going to enjoy you giving them your all x
ReplyDeleteyeeeeees well done bab!! so proud of you for being brave and choosing this! you're so fab and deserve every good thing you get! can't wait to see what the future holds for you! Xxxx
ReplyDeleteIf anyone judges you, then they are arseholes! You're doing what's best for yourself and your family and that's all that matters. Good luck Emma, I really hope it works for you and makes you happy because a happy mum makes for happy children xx
ReplyDeleteOh my GOODNESS this is BRILLIANT NEWS YOU WONDERFUL LADY!!! xxx
ReplyDeleteAmazing news lovely I am sure you can make it a success and if anything else you get what you crave and deserve in a little bit of balance after a tough time. Be proud because all your hard work did this. X p.s totally coming to the next mum meet up even if I will feel terrified of standing in my own! Xx
ReplyDeleteI am loving all of the positive comments on this. You know I'm right behind you, you've got this xxx
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I'm actually considering twerking myself into a wheelchair just so I can get some sleep. Lol!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, stop apologizing for taking charge of your life! I happen to think your plan is brilliant. I wish you much success!
Yay what fantastic news. Like you I started my blog at the same time as going back to work after my second child. And like you I totally underestimated how much work went into it!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure anyone who reads your blog or watches your vlogs will be happy to read this as it just means we will get to see more of you. This is the dream for me. Its what I'm working towards but I'm still finding my voice and working it out, I've a long way to go. You are a real inspiration to me because as a reader/watcher, you make me laugh and feel better about myself because in you I see someone like me, someone who is like my friends. Clearly someone who adores their kids but can laugh at the ridiculous parts of parenting (of which there are many). many of my goals with my blogs/vlogs are similar to what I think you achieve so well with yours.
You've done amazingly to save a years lot of wages but I doubt you will need them - you are clearly nailing it and I've no doubt you will continue to do so. You do brand work so well and I trust you are being authentic.
All the best with your new path, I wish you every luck, keep up the good work.
Good for you. One job is hard enough let alone keeping kids alive and running a house. You will always have a profession to fall back on, should you need it but why not make the most of the blog/vlog stuff whilst you have the chance. Being brave and taking a calculated risk, with a back up plan in place is an amazing example to your children. Also massively relieved your nit giving up the blog instead!!
ReplyDeleteI think this is fantastic news and bloody good for you. Well done lovely and all the luck in the world xxx
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant news and so worthwhile! You're going to spend more time with your family and be less stressed, that is the dream!! Well done on going for it xxx
ReplyDeleteabsolutely fantastic news!! you get to do what you want to do!! There's always time to go back to teaching when bubs is older. as long as your happy and healthy, is all that matters! x
ReplyDeleteYour not a disappointment at all. And it is nobody's place to judge you anyway. I love the fact that you tell motherhood how it really is. It's not all happy and jolly with bloody bells on. Some of it is hard work, bloody hard work. Well done you for having the courage to do it, and I certainly look forward to seeing your posts. Ps have you thought about a book release. Xxx
ReplyDeleteGood luck! From a fellow mummy teacher I know how hard and demanding education can be. I wouldn't give it up just yet but if you know you can and survive then go you!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing news! Well done, you totally deserve to have the balance right in your life. I'm excited to see what the future holds for you. x
ReplyDeleteI dont think you have anything to worry about :) you need to do what is best for you and your family :) xx
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic news, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteGood for you. Working and parenting is a tough call. And we love your blog even the granny aged mom like me who isn't a granny. Oh and teaching is bloody hard. More time with your children. Well done. May have to cut back on the gin though unless you become the face of Gordon's.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame for the teaching profession as I am sure you are an inspiring teacher, but ruddy good for the blogging world, which you are also inspiring in! Best of luck, Em! I'd say twerk, but .... Megan X
ReplyDeleteBrilliant news ! I don't think anyone will judge and at the end of the day you do what makes you and your family happy. I think Sprinkle of Glitter accidentally outed you in her video the other day lol. She said you had give up work to vlog when you were crossing the road. Best of luck, not that you will need it, you are aces x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Emma, a big step but you'll be fine and I can't imagine anyone thinking badly of you for it. Whoop!
ReplyDeleteStevie x
I think it's such a smart decision. You can focus on your blog (which is so time-consuming), your family, your kids and ofcourse your health. All the best and keep rocking!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me feel better on a day that my eldest son was so excited to go to a new class and I'm such a stress head with lots going on and got the times wrong he had to miss it!!!! And when I told him he was lovely and hugged me and said it's ok mom!! Which made Me feel worse and like a proper crappy mom!!! Please keep you post coming as they help many of us through our darker shitty days and make feel it's ok to drink lots of gin!!!!! Xxx
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate that sometimes life pulls the rug out from you. I had two slipped discs and a trapped nerve in my back causing me problems for over two years. It meant when I graduated university last summer I did not quite start the career I had been working on and am now at home with my 3 year old. I love the blog and videos and think you have made a good decision. No one should think badly of you doing what you feel is right for yourself and your family x
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the luck in the world! I would do the same in a heartbeat if I could - enjoy your lovely children and stay healthy! You are honestly fab and regularly make me smile after tough days of juggling work and my 2 year old! x
ReplyDeleteoh honey no one could ever have any real comment on what you do, only you know why you do what you do and as long as you are happy with that then tough sh*t to anyone else! lol I am now a full time blogger too and its paying the bills so heres to a new breed of supermomma, doing what we love and not giving a t*ss! *loves ya*
ReplyDeleteHow could we be disappointed in you Emma you followed your heart and did what is best for you and your family and we love your primark hauls and random stuff so good luck for the future Emma xx
ReplyDeleteI gave up my teaching job to be a mummy, and I have no regrets! I just wish I was closer to Birmingham for join the brummymummymeets!
ReplyDeleteGood on ya girly it's great news and I think u will do fab on YT like so many others do. You make me laugh and I love your honesty...life can be shit and kids can be fucking hard work!!! Couldn't cope with a secondary school full of the buggers lol!! Any way good luck and fab news xx
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you. Hold you head high, lady! Xx
ReplyDeleteFor one awful moment I thought you were going to give up the blog, hurrah you're not!!!! I love reading it and the pictures of your beautiful children, you are someone I'd be actually try to be friends with(I just can't seem to make friends ) can't wait for the next exciting chapter in your adventure. Good luck xx
ReplyDeleteBlimey Emma I actually had to reread the bit where you said you're terrified of your followers not liking you anymore or judging your for giving up a good job. Meanwhile I'm thinking you DID IT! You forged such a successful path in blogging (er...having launched after I did) and you have the dream situation of actually doing it as a job and being with the kids. That deserves ridiculous amounts of bubbles and high fives, not judging! Congratulations. Amazing. So erm...now you are more 'free' (ha ha ha) you can and meet me and Just Saying Mum for Bloggers Cafe :) xx
ReplyDeleteAargh! That is so exciting!! I am so happy for you and think this is brilliant news. Lots of luck and can't wait to see what life is like post-teaching!
ReplyDeleteYou could never be a disappointment. Yours was one of the first blogs I read which inspired me to give the blogging thing a try. I think it's wonderful. Life is short. You have to do what's right for you now. And if you want you can always teach again in future. So excited for you. Enjoy every minute (apart from tantrums/food throwing yadayadayada!)
ReplyDeleteNobody will feel disappointed in you for making a positive choice at this time in your life. I am a secondary school teacher too with two young children and teaching is an all consuming, demanding job (even though lots of people think otherwise!) I enjoy reading your blog and think it is great you now have time to focus on your children and pursue a career that makes you happy and brings laughter and reassurance to so many other mums. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteI feel proud that the last moment of the MADS led to your career change. I get credit, right?
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the luck in the world. I've no doubt you'll make a huge success of it. I changed my job when I had my boys so I could drop off & pick up & ive never regretted it for a second, less money but a lot more happiness.
ReplyDeleteWatch out Zoella there's a new girl on your trail ��
Congratulations on making the change and doing something that will likely work for you better. I am sad to hear of so many bloggers who were teachers, leaving it. Great for them, their families and their blogs, but no wonder teaching is losing so many staff, when blogging is going so well for many of them.
ReplyDeleteThat's so exciting Emma. I think so many of us crave the ability to be allowed to be the ones raising their babies and the freedom to do the school run. Wishing you lots of luck in your new venture x
ReplyDeleteGrab the opportunity with both hands...don't regret your decision...as a teacher I applaud your courage to leave. Everything happens for a reason....
ReplyDeleteHow exciting and well done for taking the next step! As much as we all would love to continue the careers which we have trained for, sometimes we have to go with our hearts!
ReplyDeleteWhy should you feel bad about wanting to stay at home? Your kids are only young once and they will remember the school runs (mostly in the rain) but sod it enjoy every last bit of the fickle world of blogs,fame and hopefully a little bit of Fortune! The world will still need teachers in a few years... good luck I know you've brightened up my day no end on more than a few occasions xx
ReplyDeleteGood luck Emma. I can't see how anyone would feel disappointed in you! It's your life, you choose how to live it x
ReplyDeleteEmma, you're a star and to be honest I didn't realise you were still working full time teaching. How have you done this all?! Time to focus on you and the kids is the way forward. Wishing you all the luck in the world for your new adventure xx
ReplyDeleteThis is fab and I'm sure you'll smash it. You're one of the most grounded, not up their own arse big bloggers I know so stay that way xx
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I think it is great what you are doing. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be with your kids, you have worked hard to get where you are so you deserve to do what you want. Sod the haters, we all still love you xx
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Good luck lovely, I'm sure you'll be awesome :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Looking through these comments, it looks like nobody thinks you're wrong or insane and nobody is going to dislike you for this. You're doing what's best for you and your family. Good luck to you! I'm sure it will work out brilliantly for you all.
ReplyDeleteI gave up working in an office three years ago and now work for myself at home (as well as spending far too long on my blog which doesn't pay me anything or give me work with big brands, I do it for the sheer love of it) and I would never go back. I like the flexibility of being able to do the school run and being there for all the minor emergencies of having three kids in three different schools. x
Its your life bab, if you get the chance to do what you love grab it with both hands. You've worked bloomin hard for this and i wish you all the best xxxx
ReplyDeleteWell done lovely. It is so hard to balance work, kids, blog & life. I'm struggling more as they get older. I think you have done the right thing & will be amazing as always xx
ReplyDelete