Becoming a mum inspired me to make our documentary happen
Like Mike said: we became parents, moved offices, and made a movie — three of the most intense things anyone can do — all at once during a worldwide pandemic!
Being able to work from home during my pregnancy and post-natal period was a big silver lining. I’ve seen many people propose that only going into the office when something calls for in-person collaboration should be the norm post-COVID. Agreed!
Having George was an absolute blessing; the highlight of our lives for me and Mike. He was a driving force for the documentary, and one of the reasons we pushed on and focused on the positives rather than shutting up shop to tide ourselves over.
Whenever we pulled an all-nighter to inch closer to the finishing line with our documentary, we’d check on George and suddenly be filled with a renewed sense of duty that’d drive us forward.
While there are many downsides to working from home — the blurring of work life and personal life being a big one, though we’re all quickly learning to set boundaries! — I’d be lying if I said having Mike at home more often than usual wasn’t something I’ll treasure forever. Him being present for my pregnancy was wonderful, and the flexibility of his work life has helped in so many ways.
When it came to the day of George’s birth, there were some obvious negatives. Mike, like all relatives of people in hospitals, faced tight restrictions on when he could come in and be by my side.
The situation became even more stressful when, just after he was born, George started experiencing some complications. He was moved to the ICU, run by Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, who did an incredible job of looking after him.
Mike was allowed into the ICU, too, so that was relieving. George was taken to Southampton for a quick check-up on the day pubs reopened for the first time. He probably got closer to a pint than I did in the first week he was born!
George, Mike, and I returned home just as Mike started wrapping up the final shoots for our ‘A Different Perspective of Portsmouth’ documentary. I loved being able to lead some of the interviews — much-needed social contact after lockdown and childbirth! Then, when Mike segued into the editing phase of making the documentary, he was thankful to have a second pair of eyes on the narrative he was building.
In other words: a different perspective of ‘A Different Perspective’!
On a finishing note, what’s really been on my mind for these past couple of months is how proud I am of every other mother who has faced the unprecedented circumstances 2020 has served us.
When you find out you’re going to become a mum, the future suddenly seems like a blur, but it gradually comes into focus through all the systems we have in place for bringing clarity to uncertain times.
But for anyone becoming a new parent in 2020? The rulebook got thrown out! So, if you’re one of those parents: good on you. You’ve done something historic.
