Call of Duty: Inside the Reality of Modern Motherhood
“Hey Hey, I’m BC, I’m a recovering accountant turned artist and mum of two little nut jobs
I’m on maternity service at the min with my 5 month old baby girl, Some days it feels like I’ve been on the battle field for weeks as 24 hour days have been replaced with 45 minute increments between the next tour of duty
Some of those increments are filled with utter joy, and some are complete sh*t (actually not figuratively)”
I am deep in the trenches. Some days, this journey feels more like active service. Remembering that this service is for both my baby and myself is key—though the "me" part is challenging some days.
The Reality of Maternity Service
I’m writing this while standing to stay awake, bleary-eyed after another brutal night. The older one woke up with croup at midnight, and by 5:30 AM, the five-month-old was demanding milk. The three-year-old, meanwhile, insisted that all ten of his Spider-Man figurines be present and accounted for to watch the milkshake and ask questions.
WTF sometimes.
Maternity service is a relentless, sleep-deprived mission. You do things in the dead of night that you’d never choose to do but that ultimately make you stronger. The Commander (a.k.a. the baby) issues orders; you follow them. You have one choice: comply and survive (and, someday, thrive), or resist and suffer the consequences.
Hopefully, you’ve come across Emma Barrett’s Guardian article rebranding the early phase of motherhood as "maternity service." It’s a must-read. Maternity isn’t a break—it’s a full-scale operation that breaks you down and forces you to rebuild from scratch. Only those in the trenches with you truly understand.
The Art of Saying No
I talk about pie charts a lot—a leftover habit from my career in financial analytics. Before kids, my time was sliced between socializing, working out, long hours working, and spontaneous fun. Post-kids? Those slices shrink to slivers—barely-there portions of time that require careful allocation.
Maternity service is 50% for my baby and 50% for me. I have to be ruthless about what I let back into my life. Learning to say “no”—whether to a three-year-old demanding another chocolate biscuit or to unnecessary obligations—is crucial.
Time is scarce. Energy is finite. I rank activities by the energy they give me and prioritize those first. Scrolling Instagram? Occasionally, yes. But workouts, creative work, and the best friendships? Always. Like Bear Grylls prepping for the wilderness, I must design my time with military precision.
Taking Stock
Maternity service is a chance to reflect. The daily grind of feeding, washing, and playing with a baby is repetitive but allows space to reassess priorities. Walking in the forest clears my mind, and The Commander enjoys staring at the tree canopy, so it’s a win-win.
My first round of maternity service in 2022 led to big changes. I left my role as Head of Finance and Operations at a startup, began consulting for flexibility, and pursued my ceramics career. I also co-founded The MOB—a space for mothers to talk business and work.
This second round? My slivers of time are even smaller. I’m making tough decisions, saying “no” more often. This time, my big “no” is to labelling myself as a consultant. Instead, I’m fully stepping into the title I’ve wanted since childhood.
I am an Artist. (Even typing that feels wanky, but here we are.) You can see my work at www.bctaylorart.com or on Instagram @bctaylorart.
I’ve always been drawn to making, creating, and building. Financial modelling scratched some of that itch early in my career, but my true creative path was buried under corporate life. Motherhood stripped away the layers, forcing me to confront what I truly want.
Choosing Your Hard
Nothing in life is easy. As a wise friend once told me, “You simply need to choose your hard.” Working for someone else? Hard. Working for yourself? Hard. Taking on the unpaid career of motherhood? Also hard.
I started consulting when I had the experience, motivation, and network to do it. I saved aggressively, knowing I’d only receive statutory maternity pay. I love self-employment, but it’s not for everyone. Now, during this second stint of maternity service, I’m choosing a new hard: pursuing my creative business and focusing on The MOB when I return to work in 2025.
Motherhood reshapes us. It either breaks us apart, requiring a full rebuild, or adds layers, making us more multifaceted than ever before. The key is being intentional about how we spend our slivers of time.
What Are Your Three Things?
The Commanders (a.k.a. our babies) only need three things: love, food, and play. What are your three things?
Mine are:
Creativity
Strength (physical and mental)
Love (for my family and friends)
That’s it.
If you’re in maternity service, remember that it’s 50% for them and 50% for you. Spend time on what fuels you. Be disciplined. Say no to what drains you.
Time is one of life’s five forms of wealth, according to Sahil Bloom. Spend yours wisely.
Lots of love
BCx
The MOB Co-founder
The MOB members get 10% off site-wide at www.bctaylorart.com – use CODE “MOB10"
