Networking (with small humans)

Last month I took part in a ‘Net-Walk’ event for the arts community hosted by Down Business Centre at Fodder in Downpatrick. I recently dropped a day for my little one in daycare for various reasons so I was without childcare for him at the time of the event - I messaged the organisers and asked if it would be ok to bring him along. (He’s 2, still goes in the carrier, so I’d still be ok to take part in the walk.) This was met with a resounding ‘YES babies AND fur-babies are most welcome’. That was all good, I went along, felt so welcome and my little one was no trouble. I met some really lovely creatives and came away feeling really inspired.

It did get me thinking though - why do I feel bad about bringing him to networking events? Sometimes I feel the need to fib about taking time off for hospital appointments for the kids, pick ups, drop offs, sickness… I wonder why this is. Do men feel this guilt?

My own childhood was a bit different - my mum worked full-time and my dad was self employed, so he was more flexible. He did the majority of school drop offs, dentist appointments and on closure days I went with him to work. He’s an electrician - sometimes I helped, mostly I sat in old ladies living rooms and ate biscuits. I actually loved days where I went to work with him and it’s definitely made me more independent now - wiring plugs, painting, DIY, using power tools… 💪🏻

I haven’t brought my little one to many other events, but the ones I’ve been to there haven’t been kids there. I guess it would be chaos if we all brought our two year olds! But equally it is also good to expose them to all different types of working patterns and give them an insight into what we do outside of our role as 'parent'.

It’s lovely seeing the likes of DIFTK over the water arranging get-togethers for freelance parents, children welcome. I have met a few members here too, and we’ve had a few mini-meet ups - look them up if you’re not familiar! And if you’re a freelancer here in NI and you fancy grabbing a coffee sometime (little’s welcome!) give me a shout!

Details of the next ‘Net-Walk’ are here.