Balance, Hot Topics, Moms|February 8, 2010 6:02 pm

School Principal Goes Back To Work 7 Hours After Giving Birth…To Show Girls How to Have It All



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headmastergoesbacktoschool 227x300 School Principal Goes Back To Work 7 Hours After Giving Birth...To Show Girls How to Have It AllFile under: disturbing on so many levels.

The headmaster — or headmistress, actually — of an exclusive all-girls school in England went back to work seven hours after giving birth to her baby daughter. And she’s very proud of that fact.

Dr. Helen Wright of the St. Mary’s Calne school went into labor in the early morning a few weeks ago and she was back at her desk — and working — by lunchtime.

Why you ask? She is determined to show the girls at her exclusive school not be afraid of ‘having it all’ when they get older.

“Most women have a choice of taking maternity leave or going back to work and having their babies looked after. Why can’t there be a third way – taking your baby to work with you?” she told the Daily Mail.

Dr. Wright has brought baby Jessica to school everyday since her birth, nursing her in between meetings and working while the infant naps in her crib in mama’s office.

What do you think? Is this teaching young girls about “balance” or modeling an impossible “ideal”?

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Author: Lolita Carrico is the founder of the Gloss Network for Women. Lolita has been featured as an expert on hundreds of media outlets like Redbook, Parents, The Washington Post, ABC News and FOX News, discussing topics such as parenting, relationships, career and balancing it all. Follow her on Twitter @lolita
  • Kim

    I think most moms would not want to do this and probably most moms should not do this. Most moms need to rest and recover and get to know the baby and learn to nurse.
    However I really don’t see why it is “disturbing” If it works for her then great. I do really like that she took the baby with her and since she is at a girls school then it is great that the girls can see a woman who is a full time mom AND a full time educator.
    It is not an impossible example because most moms would not want or be able to do that. However giving birth is not a disease and I say good for her!

  • http://www.mygloss.com Lolita Carrico
  • http://mamagloss M

    Bitc* be crazy.Ouch.

  • Elise B

    It’s great that she has brought her daughter to work with her but in reality you do need some time for your body to recuperate from Labor..It is physically exhuasting to give birth that is why they call it LABOR!

  • b

    Impressive. 7 hours is plenty of time to bond with the human you have been creating for 9 months before abandoning them to shuffle papers back and forth on your desk. I guess maternity leave was not an option.
    I would also like to see new mother bus drivers, stock brokers, doctors, and customer service reps trying to pull that baby screaming in the crib, breast feeding, and diaper change nonsense in their respective workplaces.
    Sorry lady. Nice try.

  • Kim

    Well I totally agree that moms should rest after giving birth and that the baby should be the priority. Still for a women in a unique job such as hers (she IS the boss, all female environment ect.) returning to work as soon as possible (maybe not 7 hours!) AND taking baby along could be a great option. For many moms it is not working that is the problem it is LEAVING the baby. Obviously waitresses, police officers, construction workers etc. are not in a position to take a newborn to work with them but if the job allows it why not? I think the idea of the headmistress of a girl’s school nursing her baby during work hours is something to be celebrated. I also wish moms would support each other more and not be so negative. My oldest child is 20 and I have done all three things- worked and left the baby, stayed at home, and worked with my baby along with me. I preffered
    the third option although I realize it is not an option for most moms.

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