The Pink Boots

Over the years there are many times that I have thought to talk about my pink boots...but I've never quite been sure how to tell their story.

I bought my pink Doc Marten boots in London in September 2001.  The pink boots became my daily office footwear.  Something a bit different and something that spoke to my personality and presence. There have been periods of 12hr+ daily use, sporadic use and a 3+ year period recently where they have been retired to the bottom of my mess of shoes.  Recently, and largely due to the upcoming American adventure, they have been brought out of hiding to spend some time in an office situation.

Some of you will know, and many of you won't, that I am a mining engineer.  When I was 15 I decided that I wanted to become a mining engineer and sure enough, after 4 years of uni, that is what I earned my degree in.  It is also the industry that I found my husband in (we met at uni, he is also a mining engineer).  We have spent nearly 12 years living in the remoter parts of Australia being part of this industry.

Charlotte was born pretty early on in my career and when she was about 6 months old I elected to go back to work full time.  That's what I needed to do.  If we had chosen to have a parent fulltime at home with our baby, at this point it would have been Steven.  Having a new baby, in a smallish mining town, 2000km away from your friends and family is isolating.  Depressing.

When Charlotte was nearly 18 months old Lillian arrived.  She was a touch younger when I resumed work full time again.  Again, that was what I needed to do.  Luckily I had a reasonably flexible work situation that allowed me to visit daycare everyday at lunchtime and breastfeed her.  I breastfed Lil until she was about 18 months, Charlotte was about 15 months.  Like my career, and need to be me, breastfeeding was (and still is) something that was important to me.

I spent the next few years building and having many successes (and a few disappointments) in my career.  I was/am a great mining engineer and the pink boots were there for me all the way. I guess they defined a little bit of girlyness in (what was once) a male dominated industry, something I've never worn a chip on my shoulder about or encountered much opposition to.  I'm currently working in an office where there is often a wait for the girls loo!  

We spent plenty of time together as a family in the evening and on weekends (there's not a whole lot of nightlife or distractions in a mining town after all) and for a time that was perfect.  At some point things changed for me, I started yearning more time at home with my growing babies.  We were ready for another baby, cue Sebastian.

Sebastian was the beginning of my life as a full time Mum.  We made the decision to move for Steven's job.  It was scary.  I had always been more senior than him.  It still scares me some days.

Next came Jasmine, further cementing my role as a full time mum...until, last year I was enticed back into some part time work, then this year back into an actual office (as opposed to home based like last year).  I feel lucky for the opportunities that I have been given as a result of wearing those pink boots for so many years and pursuing my career whilst also giving my best as a mum. 

I try not to ever second guess the decisions that I made because ultimately they have left me a stronger, more capable professional...they have given us a good financial base on which to build the future for our children...and have shaped the person that I am today.  There have been days that I have looked at my boots and wondered if I have lost a part of myself and who I am, but when I walk into work I feel lucky that I have the freedom to choose whether I work or not.

I know deep down that I don't really miss the person who wears pink boots.  I'm happy for her to stay tucked at the bottom of the shoe pile, I'm happy being the mum & wife that I am, but I am thankful that I can pull her out from time to time whenever the need arises.

Is there something in your wardrobe that defines your professional persona compared to your mummy one?

Tatum xx