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Balancing motherhood, a career and an outdoor lifestyle
I love seeing the world through my little boy’s eyes. He’s three and a half and we’ve reached the age where he is into everything. His brain like a sponge and he is constantly asking questions. The main question I hear over and over (and then over again…!) is ‘why not?’. A bit of a twist on the stereotypical toddler ‘why?’ but just as pertinent. And one which got me thinking.
Why wouldn’t we find a way to keep doing what we love when we have little ones in tow?
Many women feel they have to sacrifice the passions from their previous lives in becoming mums. Society talks about the ‘juggle’, and the struggle to maintain the juggle is real. Why can’t you carry on doing the things you love as your life evolves? Why shouldn’t you be able to continue with the pastimes that rewarded you so richly…?
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve spoken to mums and they’ve said: ‘I used to….’. Believe me, I get it. Some days are a blur, all the way from dawn-breaking wake-ups to bath time.
The idea of a weekend shooting or an early morning in the high seat can leave us feeling overwhelmed. The almost military-level of planning parents need to do is in itself something else – remembering snacks and extra layers, checking that the iPad is charged and the correct episodes of Hot Wheels have been downloaded, and an acceptance that regardless of all this preparation, there is going to be something I have forgotten or can’t factor in, such as the weather. So why do we do it to ourselves? Because we love the outdoors, we love our fieldsports lifestyle, and we want raise the next generation of countryside curators.
Monty learned from the word go that the outdoors life chose us. You can still enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle. In fact, you both can! You can get out in the high seat or for a clay shoot; you just have to reframe your goals.
A shift in perspective
It’s easy to mourn the spontaneity and the freedom of your pre-child outdoor life, but when you shift your perspective, you realise you’re gaining something even more meaningful. You’re creating a lifestyle that welcomes your children into your passions, rather than seeing them as barriers to them.
So, how do you actually make it work? Here are a few things I’ve learned:
1. Make the most of small windows
Lack of time is a real issue. Some days I might get an entire day in the field. Other days I get an hour and will have to bribe Monty with Creme Eggs to keep him from disturbing the tranquillity of the mountains as I return begrudgingly to the car mid-walk. Embrace the micro-adventures – 10 minutes in the field today can be 20 minutes next week then 30 the week after that. The small moments add up.
2. Adjust your expectations
Success looks different now, and that’s okay. It’s not about competing with your pre-mum self – it’s about enjoying the process in a new way.
3. Get the kids involved (even if it’s messy)
Sure, a shooting trip with a toddler in tow isn’t the most peaceful experience, but it is an investment in the future. Let them tag along, let them ask questions. The more they’re exposed to the lifestyle, the more they’ll grow into it.
4. Find your support system
Whether it’s a partner, a grandparent, or a like-minded friend, having people who support your outdoor passions makes all the difference. Sometimes, that means trading off time so you can have a solo adventure. Other times, it means bringing ‘the village’ along for the ride. BASC’s young shots days cater for a range of ages and abilities; check them out – you may also meet other local parents for your future support network.
5. Make life easier for yourself
Sort your kit out. I have boxes for each outdoor activity, which means if I am going shooting I can go straight to that particular box and all of my kit – plus Monty’s ear defenders, hat, gloves etc. If I am going fishing, I go to that box and can find everything we need. This is a game changer, you can just grab and go.
6. It doesn’t have to cost loads of money
Nursery fees, clubs and fuel all adds up. But enjoying the countryside doesn’t have to. You can practise mounting sticks, you can go on nature walks looking for poo and slots. All of these can be done for free.
7. It’s not selfish, its necessary
Start small: a quick range session, a cast in the garden or ten minutes training your dog is better than nothing and can help rebuild energy over time. Don’t immediately expect to return to fieldsports and to feel, behave and have the muscle memory that you did pre-children. You may be tired, or it might just have been one of those weeks. Breaking some clays, time in the high seat or casting a line rejuvinates my mental health and overall mood. Time in the outdoors isn’t selfish – it’s necessary.
The big takeaway
Yes, life changes after kids. No, it’s not always easy. But instead of seeing motherhood as something that takes you away from your outdoor lifestyle, think of it as something that deepens it. You’re not just adventuring for yourself anymore -you’re laying the foundation for the next generation to love and appreciate the wild places just as much as you do.
So reframe the goals, embrace the chaos, and keep getting outside – because adventure doesn’t end when you become a mum. It just looks a little different. Let’s make sure the next wave of young shooters grow up seeing their mums out there, doing what they love.
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Claire Sadler
Vice chair BASC council - Claire is a keen game shot and deer stalker. She also enjoys clay shooting, air rifles, working her dogs and fishing. Claire is a passionate advocate for fieldsports and works to encourage more women and young people into the outdoors.
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