Radio 2 presenter, author and mum-of-four Janey Lee Grace has had an eventful career. A former backing singer to Kim Wilde, Boy George, Wham and then George Michael – not to mention having her own top 10 hits in the early 90s – with award-winning shows like BBC GLR’s? ‘The Gospel Hour’ under her belt the list seems endless. These days, she presents on the Steve Wright In The Afternoon show on Radio 2, and writes the Imperfectly Natural series of books and runs imperfectlynatural.com.
She tells Mothers Who Work how she juggles family life, breastfeeding in laybys and shares how she managed to tandem feed a toddler and a newborn.
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
I try and be fully ‘present’ at work but switch it all off while I’m on ‘mummy time’. It doesn’t always work though!
Being a working mum can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been you highs and lows so far?
There are many highs if you love your job, the lows are coming back after a trip away for a couple of days and barely recognising your child because they seem to have grown up. All my career high points have been since having kids, I think it’s made me more confident and clear about my goals.
What is your worst experience along the way?
Feeling exhausted and seeing my little girl’s teeth rather ‘frayed’ – they reckon that’s down to my lack of calcium while pregnant – I know they’re her milk teeth but boy do I feel guilty!
Does working in the media put pressure on you to keep trim?
I’m mostly in radio so it’s not such a pressure but I’m fanaticial about healthy eating so being slim goes with the territory for me.
Do you think employers do enough to welcome mothers back to work?
It varies tremendously – I’m self-employed so it’s case of get on with it, no special treatment but I do believe employers are missing a trick if they don’t offer flexible working and childcare provision – mothers have such valuable skills to offer.
How much maternity leave did you take after having your child?
Approximately three weeks before doing the odd radio show(breastfeeding during long records!)
What are the best bits about working again?
I’m lucky as it’s not long hours, but I LOVE what I do and that makes me a more fulfilled and passionate mum.
What was the motivating factor for writing your books?
I am passionate about health and wellbeing and want to share all my enthusiasm for natural/green living, it’s so much healthier and cheaper.
How did you cope with breastfeeding when you went back to work?
I used a heavy duty expressor and stockpiled the milk, fed on route (I was often parked up in laybys!), and found a childminder for three hours as close to my work as possible in the early months.
How long did you breastfeed for?
First child: 2.5 years
Second child: 16 months
Third and fourth child until they were 3.5
Tandem breastfeeding is something that most mums can only aspire to(or run a mile from!) – how did you manage it?
I had to – my second child was born when my first was only 16 months and I knew that would be shock enough without weaning him. I always fed the new baby first and somehow there was always enough! It got tricky when I had to feed them both at once, it took some positioning! My husband had to lift the toddler on as I fed the baby!
Any tips for expectant mums, or mothers who feel that you can’t have a successful career and a happy family life at the same time?
I say go for it, I was terrified it would hold me back – limit me somehow – and yet the opposit is true, You feel so empowered you can do anything.
It’s about doing what feels right; if that’s staying at home or perhaps starting a new business – take courage, I know heaps of women who have changed direction and become successful small business women juggling around young families.
