I’d like you to meet Margaret, one awesome, hard-working momma and talented lady. This post is a part of a blog series of stories of working moms. I’m excited to share 13 stories from real working mothers. I also really would like to hear YOUR story and I’d love to hear it. Keep the conversation going in the comments & on social media using #wellcraftedworkingmoms. Margaret supplied many of the photos in this article including the stunning photographs by Lacey Monroe. Additional images are by Macey Snelson of Moments by Macey. 

I met Margaret a few years ago at a bloggers meet-up. We grew a relationship as she volunteered on a few projects with Portland Bloggers— first as a photographer in our Strike a Pose meet-up and then as a photography teacher at our Photography Workshop. I too volunteered to help in a creative meet-up group that she ran. We’ve enjoyed a few playdates with the kiddos and have stay in touch over the years. Margaret is one of those people in your life that you know that someday you’re going to look back and say, “I’m so glad we met. They have changed the world and I got to be a small part of it.”

Margaret isn’t just inspiring or giving or talented. Margaret is also a great friend, a kind person and a empathetic human being. (Hey, even Beyoncé thinks she is awesome.) No, but seriously. I’m so proud to say that I know Margaret and learn from their example. They are doing amazing things in this city and beyond.

Margaret was unable to attend the photoshoot with the other working moms and, even though sick and cuddled up on her couch, they let me sit with them for nearly an hour talking about working and motherhood. It was a wonderful interview that I am excited to share with you now.

Meet Margaret, a working mom

Margaret is a mother two, Riley (age 7) and Beck (age 6). The two are 14 months apart. Margaret was in school before becoming a mother and really didn’t work until the kids were around two or three years old. Margaret fell into the photography business and it eventually became a full-time job. Currently Margaret is working as a freelance writer and photographer full-time.

Margaret and the father of her kids divorced around two years ago. The two co-parent their children.

“Nothing’s really changed that much in regards to our parenting. Aside from that we live in different houses.”

Margaret has shared about their journey with divorce and co-parenting in their online writing. (“Why everyone says we’re doing divorce right” and “Learning to Trust Another Woman with My Kids Is Harder than I Ever Imagined” are two examples.) Margaret and their ex-husband are currently partnered.

“Everyone always talks about kids having to live through their parents divorce in such a negative way,” Margaret explained, “they say, ‘Oh! Now they’ll never be okay because they have a one-parent home,’ but it can actually be really good for the kids. AND for kids to grow up seeing that families and relationship don’t just work one way.”

A typical work day in the life of a freelance writer, photographer and mother of two

(At the time of this interview they lived approximately 30 to 40 minutes away from their previous home and the kids, but  they are moving closer at this time so this schedule will shift some.)

On a typical week when Margaret has their two children with them the family gets up at 7 am to leave the house for a long commute to their school at 7:30 AM. Margaret usually ends up dropping by the kid’s dad’s house to pick up forgotten items or to pick up their father so that they may all ride to school together.

Margaret then usually go home and dives into writing assignments for an hour, editing for an hour, and then another hour typically goes towards reading and answering emails.

“I kind of just switch between those three things,” Margaret said of their work day.

The kids get out of school by 2:40 PM and they likes to get most of their work done by then.

“I”m not really big into making food. I like to cook…I’m just so tired by the end of the day,” Margaret said of the dinner preparations. Margaret’s partner will often make dinner for the family.

When my kids are adults and look back at their childhood, I want them to know…

“I really want them to do ALL THE THINGS,” said Margaret about their hopes for their children.

Margaret shares that their daughter has had her life planned out since she was four including everything from how she planned on paying for college and medical school (modeling) to how she planned on having twins and hiring a nanny so she could do her job as a doctor.

“To my children, they don’t see it as if you have to make a choice [between working and parenthood],” Margaret explained. “It’s so different from how I grew up.”

“At the end of the day, I hope that they understand that while having and raising children is really important, that taking care of themselves is also really important.”

Margaret hopes that their kids learn to take time for themselves that that they know that, “It’s not selfish. If anything, it is a selfless thing. If you only want the best for your children you should be at your best when you are with your kids.”

Maternity Leave, Childcare & Mom Guilt… oh MY!

I absolutely had to ask a few questions about some of the topics that often come up for the working mom such as maternity leave, childcare, and the challenges & joys of working. I love the answers so much that I felt it was best to just put it in their own words. Read on to learn about the ups, downs, ins and outs of Erin’s working mom experience!

Meet Madeline, a working mom! Her story is part of a blog series of stories of working moms. I’m excited to share 13 stories from real working mothers. I also really would like to hear YOUR story and I’d love to hear it. Keep the conversation going in the comments & on social media using #wellcraftedworkingmoms. A huge thank you to the women who volunteered to share their stories, Mary Boyden of Mamma Bear Magazine for her photography and Madeline Roosevelt for hair and makeup!

I met Madeline at one of the many blogger meet-ups that she and I have both attended. She is fantastic at connecting with people and networking. When I first put out the notice for volunteers for this project Madeline was one of the first people to message me. She volunteered her amazing hair and makeup services to help make the working moms feel great in their photos. It was such a huge, kind offer. Of course, there was no way I was going to have her do all that work and NOT ask her to be interviewed as well. She has a great story and I’m excited to share it.

Meet Madeline, a working mom

Madeline Roosevelt is the mother to three kids—two boys and one girl—aged 11, 8 and 6 years old. Madeline worked as a freelance hair and makeup specialist before, during and after pregnancy. She had her first child when she was thirty years old. Madeline was partnered with the children’s father for seven years and is now a single parent.  Her children live with her every other week.

She has worked in her field of hair and makeup for the past fifteen years. She currently works on commercial photo shoots, weddings, and special occasions. She has worked for Nike, Adidas and Reebok among other companies. In addition to her freelance work she does cuts and colors at a local salon as well as runs the salon’s social media accounts.

I had a hard time really nailing down a title for Madeline because she does SO MUCH. Beyond her hair and makeup and social media work Madeline runs a blog and social media accounts promoting her business, as well as serving as an Oregon ambassador for Single Moms Planet. Entrepreneur seemed to fit the bill. While her hours differ from week to week and it may not always be full-time hours photo shoots can be incredibly long days and can cause some weeks to be well-over full time and other weeks can be more like part-time hours.

One google search of her hair and makeup work will quickly show you how talented she is!

A typical work day in the life of an entrepreneur and mother of three

A typical work day for Madeline begins at 6:30 AM when she gets her kids ready for the day and drops them off at school. She then goes home to get ready for her day. She will work different schedules throughout the week depending on what jobs she has at the time. She picks up her children after school, and then often has to attend a meeting or work in the evenings.

When my kids are adults and look back at their childhood, I want them to know…

“Sometimes they get frustrated that I’m not there, ” Madeline explains of how her children sometimes react to her working.

“They say, ‘Oh, you have to work again,” she explained, “and I say that I have to work to pay for food and a place to stay.”

Even though it can be hard sometimes Madeline said that she feels that it is important that she and her kids have a good relationship and that when they look back they know that she was there for them.

“[Having a good relationship], that’s the most important thing,” Madeline said. She continued to say that she changed her schedule because she doesn’t feel that working all the time was good for her relationship with her kids and now having a flexible schedule helps.

Maternity Leave, Childcare & Mom Guilt… oh MY!

I absolutely had to ask a few questions about some of the topics that often come up for the working mom such as maternity leave, childcare, and the challenges & joys of working. I love the answers so much that I felt it was best to just put it in their own words. Read on to learn about the ups, downs, ins and outs of Erin’s working mom experience!