My story – A mother, a wife and a woman
Rose Mabiza • 4 mins read
08 March 2023
This is my first ever blog. I had never written a blog before, and I had to find people that know how to write blogs. What I learnt in life is that if you don't ask, you won't learn. I'm not ashamed to come forward and say I don't understand.
Considering it's Endometriosis Action Month and International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, it's time I tell my story as a mother, a wife and a woman.
Self-development, a bridge from family to career
It has taken me a long time to get to where I am today. I had a lot of things I wanted to accomplish, but when I became a parent, the circumstances changed. Children become the priority, and everything else seems to fall away.
After seeing off my first son to university this year and my younger son being in his second year of secondary school, I suddenly realised that I had all this time to start working on myself and to achieve some of my goals, which had long been parked.
The story of a working mum
Some years ago, I went to university and studied for my BSc. Hons Health and Social Care. Initially, I intended to complete my nursing degree training, but I was unable to do so due to family commitments.
For the past 15 years, I have worked in the health and social care sector. As well as working with older individuals, domiciliary care facilities, dementia, respite care settings, and others, I have also worked with individuals with autism, learning disabilities, and mental health problems. I also worked in various NHS settings over the last three years, including general medicine, surgery, and other clinical areas.
In my experience, I have seen a lot of good practice, and I have been taught by many well-meaning professionals who were very experienced, caring, and compassionate. However, I have also seen instances of bad practices, which I found very challenging to comprehend as we all have a duty to ensure that we meet the outcomes of the people we support and care for.
How other women have inspired me
My grandmothers on both sides of my family have inspired me throughout my life. As a child, I was raised in large families with many children and grandchildren. They were huge influences on me. I remain in touch with most of my extended family members. Growing up, my own mother raised six of us and ensured that we all received quality education. Now, my two boys are everything to me, and I want them to achieve their full potential.
Many other women, particularly black women, have inspired me, such as Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and Viola Davis. We grew up watching Oprah, seeing her getting started and, against all the odds, becoming one of the most powerful people in a male-dominated industry. A simple girl from an ordinary Chicago family, Michelle Obama went on to become a top lawyer, then the first black First Lady of the world's most powerful nation while raising a family simultaneously. Absolutely incredible! Against all the odds, Viola Davis became one of our generation’s most exciting actors.
I grew up watching the British royal family, and Princess Diana's humility and charity work was a source of inspiration to me. When she died, it felt like I had lost a family member. It’s wonderful to see her sons with their own families, boys, growing into men.
Conclusion
In all these years, I have gained so much knowledge and experience through work, training, and development. I now wish to pass this knowledge along with other people so they can be better caregivers, be more compassionate, and show empathy when they do their work.
Therefore, I intend to tell parts of my professional story in this blog, as well as all the blogs I will write in the future. Many of them will relate to my family and what it means to be a working mother since I know many women, as well as men, are supporting and looking after their families while they carry on with their lives.
About The Mandatory Training Group
The Mandatory Training Group is one of the leading UK providers of CPDUK-accredited statutory and mandatory training, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, eLearning software and workforce development solutions for all sectors.
By making things simple and designing interactive e-learning content, we can provide meaningful training programs at all levels and enhance the capacity and resilience of individuals and organisations.
Click here to see our wide range of accredited adult social care courses and training programmes.
References and resources
- Barack Obama Presidential Library (2023) - First Lady Michelle Obama.
- Oprah (2023) - The Oprah Winfrey Show.
- The Royal Family (2023) - Diana, Princess of Wales.
- Viola Davis (2023) - Viola Davis.
