“No Work Emails On Weekends” Lana Ogunjobi

I’m Lana Ogunjobi, I live in Abuja and work in German Development Cooperation (GIZ) as a Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication Advisor. I’ve been a working mom for 2 years. I have 1 child, Asher, aged 2 years old. I went to Bournemouth University for school and I met my husband during my Master’s degree in the UK.

Nice! So what industry are you in? Why? And how did you get this job?

I work in international development, and have always been passionate about contributing to poverty alleviation and developmental work. How did I get my job? I moved to Nigeria from Cameroon and applied online. One day I got an email for an interview – and that was it. 

Your CV must have been banging. 😀 Did you get the job before or after you became a mom?

I was a stay-at-home mom till Asher was a year old.

Right. So what do you miss about being a stay at home mom?

All the time I got to spend with him. These days, I work from 8am to 5pm, which means I drop him off by 7.30, and pick him up at 5.30. It’s so upsetting. I wish I could either work from home sometimes, or work shorter hours and close at 3pm.

So if you won the lottery…

If I won the lottery, I would dive into entrepreneurship, so I could determine my own hours. Understandably, I’d put in more time – but it would be my choice which hours I wanted to work. That way, he could close from school at 2pm. 

You’re speaking the mind of the typical working mom. How did going back to work feel?

Exciting. Going back to work after a year meant that I got out of the mommy-baby bubble. I loved that bubble, but I knew I had been in it too long. First day of work felt like I was getting my groove back on! I wore heels and more make up than I would for Sunday service.

Haha! So how does a typical day go?

Wake up 6am, get ready for work and get Asher ready for school. Give him some breakfast, drop him off and get to work right before 8am. I’m in till 5pm, drive to his school, pick him and we are home. Make dinner for him, and then for my husband and myself (our food is spicy), watch T.V., talk about our day, put the baby in bed by 8.30 (thank God for sleep training) and we have the evening to ourselves for a few more hours. 

Doesn’t sound too bad. Do you feel like you’ve balanced things well enough?

I think I just got in a routine, and it works. Some days I am a little more tired than others especially after work and I go to bed by 8.30 too. Two rules though: I do not check my mails after 5pm, and no mails on weekends!

Those are awesome rules. Do you ever feel mom guilt?

Always! Especially when he is sick. It’s hard not to feel clike I am completely responsible for every single thing concerning him, and I start to wonder if I should have given him more vitamins, more food or anything else that would have kept him from getting sick! It doesn’t really work that way, but I think mom guilt is that extra package you get when the newborn slides out. I deal with it by repeating to myself, “God chose me for Asher, and I am the best mom for him. I am doing a great job raising him and everything will be fine.” 

We’re stealing that affirmation! What was the most shocking thing?

You do not get any sleep right after you have a baby! That came as a little shocker. My older sister made it look so easy (or maybe because I was her half nanny for a bit haha), but I could barely sleep till he was 3 months plus.

Lol! The bits nobody tells you. The cool thing is you also develop skills you’d never have expected…

Quick meals! Oh, I can make baby meals in the shortest time possible! 

Haha! That’s something most moms can connect with. Back to work. What do you like about it?

My job is friendly to working parents. We get a few days off to attend to sick children (and spouse). Some programmes have converted rooms into a creche which is amazing. 

Not bad. I’m sure there’s a working mom reading who’s thinking, “I want to work there!” So what would you tell someone just starting out in your field?

Build a network. A little referral can go a long way. Also be prepared to do some voluntary work (I would not advise more than 6 months). 

That makes sense. Speaking of career advice, what’s the best you ever received?

Train (course, professional development, learning event) at least every year while on your current job.

Such great advice. Would you say parenting has changed you?

Being a working mom has enhanced my time management skills – tremendously. I also multi-task a lot better, and I feel a stronger sense of commitment. Prior to being a mom, it wouldn’t take much to jump at another job opportunity, but now I feel attracted to the stability. 

I feel you on that. Curveball question. What’s your favorite thing in your wardrobe?

An ox-blood, high waist fashionnova skirt. Hugs me well!

Oooh. Let me guess, the one thing you’re obsessed with is…

Fashion designing. 😎

And what are you most terrible at?

The shaku dance. Phew!