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In this engaging conversation, Eilidh Whiteford shares her unique journey from a political career to becoming a mother at 50. She reflects on her experiences in academia, the challenges of navigating the political landscape, and the joys and difficulties of motherhood later in life. Eilidh discusses her experiences with menopause, the societal perceptions of older mothers, and the importance of work-life balance. Her story is one of resilience, adaptation, and what it means to be a mother and a professional in today's world.

Eilidh Whiteford was born in 1969 and grew up on the Banffshire coast. After studies in literature at Glasgow University and the University of Guelph, Canada, she taught in adult education before building a career in the voluntary sector. From 2010 to 2017 Eilidh served in the House of Commons as MP for Banff and Buchan. During that time, she was the SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions, and for Agriculture and Fisheries. Eilidh lives in Cruden Bay with her husband and son, and a grumpy cat. She now works for the strategic advisory firm, True North.

Takeaways

• Eilidh transitioned from politics to consultancy, leveraging her experience.
• Her leap into politics was influenced by a chance conversation at an event.
• Eilidh served as an MP for seven years, achieving significant milestones.
• She became a mother at 50, which she describes as living life upside down.
• Eilidh experienced perimenopause while navigating new motherhood.
• She found the challenges of motherhood to be a great equaliser.
• Eilidh emphasises the importance of adapting to work-life balance.
• She reflects on the infantilising nature of maternity care for older mothers.
• Eilidh believes age is just a number and encourages others to embrace their journeys.

Sound Bites

“Even if you're winning the argument, you may not be winning the vote.”

“I've never heard a parent yet who doesn't say they're constantly exhausted and constantly working really hard at it…it's a great equaliser in lots of ways.

"You can't do HRT while you're still breastfeeding. So I just had to get on with it.”

“If you were a kid in school learning about this [menopause], you'd probably forget it and think, nah, that's not for another 30 years or whatever. But it might help you know what's going on with your mother”

Resources:

UK Parliament: https://members.parliament.uk/member/3911/career

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilidh_Whiteford

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eilidh-whiteford-979a6a4

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:20 From Politics to Public Affairs

04:23 Academic Journey and International Experience

07:17 Transitioning to Politics

11:35 Life After Politics: Becoming a Mother at 50

13:04 Navigating Menopause and Motherhood

16:39 Experiences as an Older Mother

17:45 Reflections on Age and Parenting

22:24 Balancing Career and Family Life

26:23 Cin Cin

27:13 Outro

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