Being a mother is wonderful, but often also a challenge, especially when combined with a job. At Booking Experts, we believe that work and parenthood can go hand in hand, as long as there is space and trust given to one another.

In the lead-up to Mother’s Day, we spoke with four colleagues about how they balance work and family, what helps them, and why they feel supported at Booking Experts (BEX).

Melanie: "It’s all about trust and cooperation."

Melanie lives with her husband Marco and their children Mika (3) and Frenkie (5 months) in Deventer. She works 28 hours a week at Booking Experts as a Content Marketer and has found a good balance between work and private life.

"I work as much as I’m off. It also helps that my husband and in-laws are actively involved in taking care of the children. We divide everything well so I can balance work and family."

What does Melanie appreciate most about BEX?

The trust her managers have in her. "At BEX, they understand that things don’t always go as planned, especially when you have children. My managers are parents themselves, so they know how things can go, and that not everything is predictable. The trust that I’m doing my job well means I can work without stress."

Maureen: "Work and family can exist side by side."

Maureen is the COO at Booking Experts and mother of Balian (15) and Rojin (11). For Maureen, work and parenting aren’t separate things but can be well integrated.

"I consciously became a mother, but I also consciously stayed in the workforce. That gives me a lot of energy. I attend their activities, sports, outings, help out at school when I can, but that doesn’t have to come at the expense of my work. I think it’s important that my kids learn that there are responsibilities too, so sometimes I’d sit at MonkeyTown with my laptop and earbuds in, so they could play while I worked."

What does Maureen appreciate most about BEX?

The freedom to arrange work in her own way. "Because everything works in the cloud, I can work anywhere. I don’t have to choose between work or being a mother – I do both. I usually start work early and pick it back up later in the day. When Rojin gets home from school, I enjoy shutting my laptop, making a cup of tea, and hearing about her day.''

What she wants to share with other mothers:

"If you take good care of yourself, you can truly be there for others. At Booking Experts, you can really say when something isn’t working, and we’ll look for a solution together. We help each other, and that’s why you feel supported by the team."

Daphne: "Freedom and flexibility make it achievable."

Daphne is the mother of Lucas (almost 2 years old) and lives with her partner Pim and their cat Maya in Enschede. She works 28 hours a week at Booking Experts as an Online Marketer. The ability to set her own workday makes all the difference for her.

"At BEX, I can set my working hours flexibly. I work three days in the office and half a day from home. On that home working day, my mother is there to take care of Lucas in the morning. Additionally, Lucas goes to daycare one day and to my mother’s for another day. If something unexpected happens, I can always swap my workdays. That makes it possible to balance work and family."

What Daphne appreciates most about BEX:

"The flexibility and trust. There’s room to set your own workday, whether you start at 8, 8:30, or 9 AM. The fact that I can determine my working hours and adjust my day when needed gives me the freedom to balance both my work and my family."

Her tip for other mothers:

"At BEX, work and parenthood can be balanced well. There are many parents on the team, so you feel understood and supported. Thanks to the flexibility and trust from BEX, I can successfully combine my work with my family."

Moniek: "At Booking Experts, there's understanding when things don’t go as planned."

Moniek is the mother of Stijn (13) and Jesse (11). She lives in Enschede with her husband Tom, two cats, and rabbits, and works 32 hours a week as an Onboarding Specialist at Booking Experts. What helps her balance work and family is the flexibility she gets.

"BEX gives me the opportunity to set my own working hours. This way, I’m home when my kids need me. Whether I work from home or the office, it doesn’t matter to me. I can balance everything with my family because I always have the freedom to decide where and when I work."

What does Moniek appreciate most about BEX?

The understanding for the chaos of family life. "It’s great that I can adjust my working hours, and there’s also understanding when things don’t go as planned."

Moniek tries to take care of herself despite the busyness of work and family: "I exercise regularly, walk a lot, and enjoy reading books. I also regularly go on trips with my family, like going to an amusement park or taking a nice vacation."

Her message for other moms:

"At Booking Experts, work really can be balanced with family life. The atmosphere at work is great, so definitely apply!''