Mia Gordon
Reporter, Host, Content Creator, Blogger

Mom life: Returning to work after mat leave

While the first few days feel like I blur I still remember the feeling. The feeling of utter joy to have my new baby in my arms but I also remember just feeling so overwhelmed, anxious, scared, and of course tired. I remember wishing away the early days. I can’t wait until he sleeps through the night or I can’t wait until he no longer has to feed every two hours.

But then the days started to fly by, and those early sleepless nights were a distant memory. As someone once told me “The days are long but the years are short.” And it’s so true – this year flew by in the blink of an eye. And 13 months since I said see ya later to the Weather Network to embark on this incredible new journey as mom – it is time to head back to work.

This year has been my biggest year of growth yet. It has taught me patience, kindness, love (like I have never known before) and what is truly important to me. It has been a year full of memories, laughter, tears, and now it is time to turn the page on the book again and start a new chapter.

I was speaking with my therapist the other day about the anxiety I am having around finding the perfect balance. A balance between work and life they say but it is so much more than that, work, life, family, friends, my baby, and myself. It sounds like something only a superhero could do. I was feeling so overwhelmed that this wasn’t possible. And you know what – finding that perfect balance might not be humanly possible -but we decided I would just take it one day at a time.

Before having Max my life was my work – I had worked for 10 years to get to where I am and I finally found a job that I actually saw as a career that I love. After years of working part time, freelance, hard news and all the in between moments. At the Weather Network I have finally had a chance to tell real stories, ones that matter. Bringing important information to people, while also focusing on climate change and sustainability – which is something I care deeply about. I have had a chance to even create my own documentaries on these topics. I love my work – it has allowed me to travel and explore. I have seen the Northern Lights in the Yukon, the glaciers that tower over Whistler, the grizzlies of the Great Bear Rainforest. I have been given so many incredible opportunities and I am truly excited to see what comes next as the videographer and bureau chief for the Weather Network out here in British Columbia.

But now I have this new priority in my life. Gone are the days where I can just pack a bag and go. Gone are the days where I can just drop everything and run out to cover active weather. It is going to be a new balancing act for sure – one that I am nervous to try and conquer, but also one that I am excited about. I am excited to write this next chapter of my life – of our lives.

I know it isn’t going to be easy, there are going to be hiccups, and bumps and challenges – but that is the world we live in, and now I know just how challenging it is to be a working mom, but I want to be a mom that my son is proud of.

So mommas I see you, I feel you and I am here with you as you start to write new chapters of your own lives.

xo

Mia

The Next Chapter

I picked up my first tennis racket when I was just four years old. I grew up playing competitively and dreaming of one day playing on the WTA circuit. That dream came true for a brief moment, before a shoulder injury.

During my time off, I decided to switch courses and accepted a full scholarship to an NCAA D1 school. There I fell in love with broadcasting, and decided to pursue sports in a different way, through story telling.

I dreamed of becoming a sports broadcaster and interviewing the top athletes in the world, having a chance to bring their stories to life.

After I graduated, my path took me in a little bit of a different direction. I ended up getting my first big girl job as a videographer and news reporter in Corpus Christi, Texas. I had never really watched local news before, but after my first week on the job, I fell in love with it. Telling the stories that really mattered to the community meant a lot to me.

After a year in Texas I moved back to Canada, and took a few other positions as a reporter and videographer, before I finally got into the world of sports. It all happened when Sun News shut down, and I decided to really go after my original dream.

I got a job as the reporter and host for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats CFL team. Soon after, TSN launched a station in Hamilton and it was a dream come true. I got to host game days, tell stories, and interview some of the top CFL players.

Once my time with the Cats came to an end, I moved on to a new and exciting opportunity with the National Lacrosse League. They were launching a digital network and looking for a videographer and reporter. I was excited to take on a new role bringing attention to a sport I truly love.

Then came the move. My partner received a job promotion in Vancouver, and I had to make the choice. With my family already out in B.C. it was easy to make the move, but hard to leave a full time job I loved. Thankfully, the NLL team kept me on part time, and I landed a job with Sportsnet and the Saskatchewan Rush.

Over the last nine months, I have fallen in love with all three of my jobs. Traveling to Saskatoon and spending time with 15,000 memebers of Rush Nation, telling the players stories, and living out my dream as a sports host at Sportsnet. It all seemed too good to be true. I fell in love with my team at both of these places. Co-workers soon became friends, and friends soon became family.

The past months will filled with unforgettable memories, from co-hosting a morning show (can you say dream come true) to winning a championship with the Rush. It has been a whirlwind, and all of this success made my next decision that much harder.

Over the years, I have had lived out so many dreams and created so many memories. During my career, I have also realized that my true passion is telling the stories and bringing them to life for the viewers. That is why I was excited to jump on an opportunity with the Weather Network.

As a child, the Weather Network was always locked on our T.V. I loved watching the reporters bring the stories to life.

I am so excited for this next and extremely new chapter. I am excited to be out in the field, I am excited to be filming content, I am excited to continue my story telling but in a different outlet.

I know that this new chapter will bring on challenges, but it will also bring on adventure, excitement, and new opportunities I could never have imagined. Thank you to the Weather Network for believing in me, and allowing me a chance to join such an amazing team.

But before I step fully into this new chapter, I also need to say thank you to the NLL, the Rush, and Sportsnet for giving me the chance to continue to pursue my dream in my new home, for making me a part of the team but more so a part of the family, and for allowing me a stage to tell your stories. For that I cannot thank you enough.

That chapter of the book closes, and now it is time for an exciting new chapter. I hope that you will continue to follow along as I continue to try and bring the best possible stories to life.