5 months ago, I left Avo space, exceptionally pregnant and on the brink of the unknown journey of parenthood. I had no idea what was about to happen.

My myyyyyyyyy…. How my world has changed since then. For those of you that have children, I don’t think I need utter another word. For those of you that haven’t, I am not sure that I can find the words. So altogether, I find myself quite speechless, with a heart that is bursting. What have I been doing… well…“purposefully bumbling” through each day, learning my child as she learns the world. What a sweet gentle time this has been. I have loved every minute and am astounded at how much this new order suits me.

Avo’s… YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING! Truly!

To the big world out there, I want to explain what an extraordinary organisation Avocado Vision is. It can’t be easy when your Training Manager announces that she is pregnant. Firstly, you know full well, that complete porridge brain is only a few weeks away, and is likely to last for the next 5 years. Then, 4 months of maternity leave looms, where your organisation is completely without one of its key players. If that’s not enough, the new mother, announces at the last minute, that she cannot possibly come back to work, and wishes to extend her maternity leave by another month. And when she does come back, she is likely to be ‘ga-ga’ and ‘bumbly’ for the first few weeks. Eish! Not something an organisation can weather easily.

From the moment I announced my pregnancy, Avo has been nothing but supportive and encouraging. Rather than focusing on the loss to the business, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) focused on the gain of a little baby Avo-pip. Throughout my porridge months, my colleagues supported me and gently nudged me in the right direction when I lost my way, without ever showing the slightest frustration. And when I signed off on maternity leave, they left me alone, COMPLETELY, while I  worked out what my little girl needed from me. Not once, did anyone call or mail, or give me any sense that I was letting them down by not being there. The only mails I got were one-liners that talked about my baby… the only thing in my universe at the time.

When I asked for more time, it happened to be in one of Avo’s busiest months; Avo was operating at FULL TILT. My request was in no way, easy to accommodate. Jules pulled strings, made deals, and moved mountains so that I could stay with Sarah for 30 more days as she continued to steer the ship almost single-handedly. Her comment was, “ we are in a work crisis that will pass and we’ll forget about it. These days to you are like gold and you will never get them back. We will make a plan”. To Jules and Liezel, I cannot thank you enough for these precious days you gave to Sarah and I. A greater gift, I could not imagine.

And Avo’s… THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for allowing me to go on this journey without looking back. You have let me go and now I can come back knowing that I really did what I needed to do, without guilt or worry. Sarah Louise is all the happier for it… and so are Gareth and I.

I know that Avo is special like this and that many organisations do not support their new mothers in the way that Avo does. Maternity leave is often seen as a burden that has to be carried.  Avo, even through the busiest of seasons, finds ways to let their new mothers go… It’s a clever thing to do, it’s right and it’s noteworthy. I come back grounded, I come back loyal and I come back willing to balance my family and my work in a healthy and sustainable way.

I am eternally grateful and salute you all for having such sound life priorities. Jules Newton… thanks for leading such an awesome team! You’re a diamond!