Business and babies

Hollywood superstar Sarah Jessica Parker is much-loved and envied for her lifestyle in the US TV phenomenon ‘Sex And The City’.

If not for the single-girl lifestyle then at least for the Christian Louboutins, Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos that her character Carrie Bradshaw slips her feet into.

In her latest starring role however, Parker has ditched the attitude of a singleton in New York.

Gone are the long lunches and cocktail happy hours in the company of gossiping friends.

In the new movie ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’, which also stars ‘Frasier’ mainman Kelsey Grammar and ‘Mad Men’ beauty Christina Hendricks, Sarah plays high-flying hedge-fund manager Kate. As the family breadwinner, she struggles to balance her fast-paced career with the pressures of being a devoted wife and mother to two children.

How many women would look on in envy at SJP’s new character? Even with a Hollywood sheen, her life is a lot different from Carrie’s. But there are more real women living life like Kate.

Some like busy lives but many have no choice – there’s the small matter of bills to pay. And even if they are not the sole breadwinner, often mums are still the ones who pick up the slack at home. South African expat Ena Lee is a mother-of-two who works in retail.

She was the family’s main breadwinner and with her husband now out of work, she is the sole provider. And although it is tough, she believes structure is the key to juggling work with family life.

She says: “I don’t think anyone could do it, work and raise a family, without a structure. No matter how strong they are.

“Maternal instinct is one thing but you have to have a plan and some logical ideas. Even for shopping, a relaxed daily shop is out of the question. Organisation is key.”

One aspect of life in the UAE which often splits opinion is that of domestic help. But Ena admits the family nanny has a crucial role in their life.

She explains: “Being in the UAE and not having the support of my family, is difficult. But I’m in a privileged position – my nanny is my right hand really. If it wasn’t for her, I really might be going to bed at 1am and sleeping for two hours before it was time to get up and get the family ready again.

“She will look after the children straight after school and when I come home from work I will sort out homework and go through it. With meals, we have a meeting on Saturday, I then do the weekly shop and she will prepare the daily dinner.

“Of course it is full on, kids will be kids and I do wish for a break now and again. But on Mondays I try to get out for an hour to walk with a friend, to catch up, be healthy and get my mind together. And to be honest, if the husband is not pulling his weight then it can be even tougher for everyone.”

Anne Scott is another busy mum. For years she was the main wage earner, but now in Dubai, she shares equal responsibility with her husband. And although her partner takes his duties seriously, Anne thinks a mother’s work will never be done for a number of reasons.

She says: “A mother can’t let go I’m afraid, it’s nature. We’ve just got more common sense. When it comes to dressing our son, my husband puts on something that just doesn’t match. He’ll end up wearing all sorts if I don’t get involved.

“Also, even though I might be busy, my son will never see it that way. He will get angry if I don’t spend enough time with him. The other day we went to Wild Wadi – I spent the whole time with him, on the slides. He was so happy but has no I idea if I was exhausted from work.

"When I drop my son off at school I might sometimes envy other mothers who don’t work. But although they look very happy, I know some of them are jealous of me for going out and working every day because they might be fed up just sitting at home all day, every day.”

Do you have any secrets to juggling a career and parenting duties? Email letters@7days.ae