That Mama: Bridie Forster

Meeting One Of Dubai’s Inspiring Mamas!

This mama not only has a dream job (PR Director at Christian Dior…does it get much better than that?!) but also a beautiful baby boy and a zest for life. We chat to Bridie about everything from her average day to the restaurants she loves plus how she juggles a career with motherhood and lots more.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your career?

I started working in PR in London as part of my Masters course in the Topshop press office which was every 21-year-old girl’s dream. Following that internship, I moved to Dubai (for a year… 12 years later I’m still here!) and moved into the beauty sector of PR.

I’ve been lucky enough to have worked for some of the most amazing brands such as Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown and La Mer. Four years ago, I joined Dior Beauty and have completely fallen in love with the beautiful French Maison and everything it represents. During busy times of the year (around eight months of the year) I travel every other week for new product launches or to Paris Fashion Week which means lots of planning with childcare and packing. One of the spare rooms in my house always has a suitcase semi packed on its floor! 

Tell us about your husband and kids

I met my husband in Dubai after living here for a year. We met at a Thanksgiving dinner through mutual friends. He is the calm to my hectic and has always been fully supportive of any career decisions I have made. My son Raef is two years old and is at the most adore-able age right now.

Dior was very supportive of my request for a longer maternity leave than is usual in the region, and we settled upon six months leave on the agreement I attended a couple of international trips with top editors. I naively agreed to this pre-baby and so my husband found himself joining me on a press trip to the Cannes film festival when our son was eight weeks old. Never again!! 

How do you balance work and motherhood?

It’s more of a juggle than a balance!

Read more: Life Hack: 18 Apps to Help Sort Your Life Out for 2018

How do you save time? What are your organisational tips and tricks?

I am a huge fan of list writing. I write lists about lists…

I have removed social media notifications from my phone and limit social media time to lunchtime and after Raef has gone to bed otherwise I find myself losing hours lost in a feed.

I have learnt to become efficient at packing for my trips and I have an incredible Nanny who comes to our house five days a week and a great cleaner who comes twice a week. One of my sisters lives in Dubai and stays at my house if my husband and I are both overseas which is invaluable and her and my son have a very special relationship. I couldn’t do my role here without my support network around me.

Read more: Beautiful Beaches In Dubai For Great Snaps Of The Kids This Winter

Describe your average day

We have breakfast as a family and then my nanny arrives and gets Raef ready for nursery while I get ready for work. I drop Raef to his nursery on the way to the office. I work in D3 and my day mostly consists of meetings with press, influencers, production companies and event producers. I usually have a lunch with one of my friends who work in D3 or an editor. I get home around 6.45pm in time for bath and story time.

I have had to learn to say no to mid-week socializing. Pre-child we would socialise most evening, now I limit my mid-week plans to only two evenings a week catching up with friends or out to dinner with my husband if we are both in the country at the same time!

Weekends are all about family time, Friday is beach day with my husband and Raef and Saturday we meet with friends and our kids play together.

If you were stranded on a desert island – which 3 children’s items would you not be able to live without?

• Calpol
• A dummy
• ‘Bunny’

Favourite activity with your little boy?

Kite beach and Al Khazzan Park opposite City Walk

Read more: 14 Fun Things to Love Doing With Your Kids in Dubai

Dream family vacation?

My dream family vacation is where I spent my summers as a child in Northern Mallorca. My whole extended family spends the summer there and I’m so happy that my husband and Raef have fallen in love with that part of the island as much as I have. It is my favourite time of the year and I am guilty of living for Mallorcan summers.

We spent a week at The One and Only in the Maldives when Raef was six months old which was very special and definitely felt like a dream vacation.

We recently spent Easter in Sri Lanka and it was the perfect break with children. The wildlife gave hours of entertainment and I’m already excited for when Raef will be old enough to join us on safari in Kenya which is one of my favourite trips I’ve ever taken.

Favourite date-night restaurants?

Il Borro, Zuma, Coya, Marina Social

Read more: FOODIE NEWS FLASH, April 2018: New Restaurants & Cafe’s In Dubai

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a parent?

“Everything is a phase”

Who is your hero or heroine and why?

I have many – I am constantly inspired by friends both here and overseas, colleagues and of course my family. I come from a very large female family and I am grateful of the values that have been instilled in me growing up.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

God there are too many to list..!

As a mama I wish I were better at…

Living in the present

My most humbling mama moment was…

Whenever we travel. I love to see the world through my son’s eyes and he makes me notice things that would have otherwise passed me by

Read more: Parenting Tips: The Importance of Growth Mindset, and How to Boost It

One thing I won’t sacrifice as a mama is…

Breastfeeding my new born. I loved feeding Raef and the closeness and bond that came with it.

I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about…. 

Work. Unfortunately!

Even when my children have families of their own, I’ll still…

Always make time to listen to them

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My favourite moment of the day is…

The morning when my son comes into our bed for a cuddle before we get up and start the day

I always feel saner after…

Exercise

I wish I had more time for…

Reading