Lights, camera…oh crap I can’t find a babysitter.
This is often how my daydreams come to a grinding halt. Inspired by reality, as a mum to three and an actor even when I visualise success, my own world pops the dream. My reality is not a bad reality by any means. In fact, I consider myself rather fortunate. However, my chosen career path does have its obstacles as most of them do but I am here to tell you about mine.
Having kids and working, be it part time or full time, is always a juggle. Having kids and being a full time mum is a juggle as well. So throw in a career that is last minute, involves castings that are unpaid – though childcare is not free, combined with a husband who has an almost equally unpredictable schedule then you get a healthy number of obstacles. The great thing about obstacles though, is learning how to jump higher than them, run around them or learn to accept that some you simply cannot overcome.
My castings can vary from three a week to one a month. The casting details are usually emailed the day before. The majority of them are in London and inevitably I will need childcare in some form.
My first reaction is “woohoo! A casting” followed by “Argh! What if I can’t find childcare?” Then my impatience grips me as I stand waiting for the childminder to text back her answer. I fret. Isn’t two minutes far too long to have to wait for an answer? This is my career, my life my… my fretting is interrupted by a text stating childcare is possible.
Relief sets in; I call my agents and say I can go. I read the casting brief, prepare my outfit and finally breathe. The next day, once the kids are safely at school I get ready and make my way to the station.
The casting comes and goes. On the way home I ruminate about the casting as most actors do. Some don’t. I admire them. My rumination tends to go something like this; Did I blink during my ident? Did my eyes cross? Was I believable in my dismay at burnt toast? Then my mum reality hits and it is “argh I’m running late!”
Once I had a casting in Kent hotel. I also had one child off school sick and the other didn’t have nursery that day. I rang my agents in a panic but they assured me my kids could come along.
In the room is the casting director, some other people another actor playing my husband, the kids and me. We are asked to improvise a normal morning before work. The scene ends in a kiss goodbye, well a peck really. The kids gasp. Panic sets in. They will return home and that night tell daddy of how mummy took us to a hotel, a man kissed her. The therapy bills for the kids are already adding up.
I hope the kids can see that you can work and be a mum without missing out on their lives very much at all. One of the kids said the other day “Mum can you go into to London soon and have your picture taken so we can go to the child minder? She has cool toys.” I think the kids are cool with it all When I do get a booking it is all worth it though this sets the wheels in motion again with the same stress of can I find a childminder, what if the kids are sick on shoot day, will I pay more in child care than I earn…
Courtney Cornfield (pictured) – You can follow Courtney on Twitter and read her blog in full HERE!
