CFK: When did you go back to work after having Phillip?

JA: I waited until nine months after he was born. I was presenting the morning show on The Edge 96.1FM so it was early mornings and I couldn’t really have physically gone back any earlier!

CFK: What were your main motivations to return to work?

JA: I just really needed to get away from the house for a few hours a day and use my brain in another way! I also loved my job and really missed it. I had co-hosted the morning show on The Edge 96.1FM (Sydney) for years and they wanted me to go back, which was great. It was nice to be wanted professionally as well!

CFK: What was the hardest thing about returning to work?

JA: Leaving my son for sure. I felt physical pain every single day at the thought of not being in the same room with him for five hours a day. And I hated the thought of missing anything. It was also difficult for my husband. I asked him to do the morning shift while I worked and then he would work when I returned home. He found this quite stressful as he has a very challenging career in property and was setting up his own business, but at the time neither of us wanted outside help. Phillip has severe allergies to eggs and nuts so it was really hard to comprehend putting him in care other than his family.

CFK: Who looks after Phillip when you work?

JA: At the moment when I work my husband, mother and sister look after him. He also attends day care two days a week, mainly so he could develop social skills and friendships.

CFK: How did you find your child care?

JA: It was really hard because of Phillip’s allergies. I rang every child care centre in my area, looking for a centre with a good food allergy program. I couldn’t find one; however the ABC Bondi Junction had the most potential and they were willing to talk to me about how to manage his allergies.

CFK: What were your main priorities while you were looking for child care?

JA: I wanted to make sure my son would receive plenty of one-on-one care and attention. I also needed a centre flexible enough to make changes to ensure he was safe. He is highly allergic to egg and nuts and requires an EpiPen® if he goes near either. They were brilliant and completely retrained all their staff in dealing with anaphylaxis and made all the changes I needed (like food menu etc).

CFK: What would you do differently if you were looking for child care again?

JA: Nothing. I think it’s important to speak with as many child care facilities as possible until you find one that works for you and that you connect with. Visit as many as you can and make your choice that way. I love my son’s centre. They are such amazing people. Even more so because of what they’ve done for Phillip’s allergies.

CFK: What are the main benefits of your child care arrangement?

JA: Phillip didn’t begin until he was two-and-a-half. He’d been quite quiet but I noticed he immediately began talking more. He also very quickly overcame his shyness with other children and he became more emotionally independent from me, which was sad (for me!), but I think it was an important part of the growing process.

CFK: Have you any amusing or heart-warming child care experiences?

JA: Phillip used to howl at the top of his lungs when I dropped him off. He would cry very dramatically but apparently, five minutes after I left, he’d be calm and social. I was told it would help if he attended more than one day a week so a month ago, I began taking him two days a week. The second week, I dropped him off and braced myself for the usual water works but he said, ‘bye mum’ and didn’t even wait for me to leave before running off to play. Melissa, one of the carers, looked at me in shock and I gave her a ‘thumbs up’. She had been all ready to pry him out of my arms as usual. It’s been a wonderful development for me and for him as I no longer feel guilty for placing him in care. Quite the reverse, I think it’s been great for both of us.