Melissa Seymour

I was in mid sentence about working from home and the interviewer had said how hard that is, especially when you have calls to make and want to present a professional image. ‘Yes’ I said, but it would be nice wouldn’t it, if people were more accepting of this, and really, we should be more accepting of this situation ourselves - like we should be out and proud of it. Anyway, I fear that I sounded like I was talking from my pedestal and I have all this under control. I don’t. There was a time recently that I had to take a call from the States at 6pm - like dinnertime! Brad (my husband) was away so I was managing the whole process myself, trying to speak and make out like I WASN’T AT HOME, with a one year old on my hip and a hungry 5 year old tugging at my shirt. I had to take the call and try explaining that to the kids - not. So I am talking away (negotiating a performance by a very well known band), rocking Saskia on my hip (ploy to keep her quiet) when I feel……. wetness. No, not that kind. Poo. All that rocking had loosened her nappy and, well, enough - you get the drift. So I say to the other person on the phone - ‘listen, that all sounds great, how about you email me as I have to run into an urgent meeting’. Didn’t work, they wanted to continue the discussion so I ran into the bathroom and put Saskia into the bath (no water, just sat her there) while my blood pressure went through the roof and poo ran down my leg.