I love working at home but my boys cried when I went out, says Dragon
TV “Dragon” Sara Davies says leaving home for work after a year of lockdowns is proving difficult for her young sons.
As one of the no-nonsense backers in BBC One’s Dragons’ Den, Sara demands full focus from the business hopefuls making their pitches.
But the 36-year-old, who is worth £45million thanks to her craft empire, says the last year spent putting her children to bed every night has had a dramatic effect.
Sara, who has two sons, Oliver, seven, and Charlie, four, says being able to work remotely without compromising her business has meant she has been able to spend all her time with them.
She admits she is concerned about finding the right balance once lockdown is fully eased.
“I put my kids to bed now every night and they’ve never had this before,” said Sara.
“Before Covid, I would put the kids to bed and drive back to the studio to work. Now I pick up work again at 8pm and do a few more hours online before I go to bed.
“I actually had to go to London last week, the first time I’ve been in over 12 months – and the boys cried.
“They were like, ‘Don’t go mammy, don’t go’. I had to say to them, ‘I’m only going for the day. I’ll be home to put you to bed’. It was the end of the world for them.
“I’ve always strived for a good work/life balance.
“Before, if I was away from home, the business got 110 per cent of my attention. And if I’d been in
America for four days I’d come back and have a dedicated couple of days with the kids.
“I’ve always tried not to be one of those mums who takes their kids to the park and pushes them on the swings with one hand while checking their emails on their phone.
“It’s important to be in the moment with my sons. Maybe what I don’t have in quantity I make up for in quality.” Sara lives with Simon, her husband of 14 years, and their sons in Teesside. She reveals she would never have got through the lockdowns without both sets of grandparents: “The first lockdown we used to wave at them through the window once a week. But in the second one we kept to a strict bubble.
“It was great we were able to rely on them for support.
“They have always been very
hands-on anyway and they did most of the home-schooling, which was an absolute godsend.
“I know they were exhausted at the time. It really took its toll. But they will look back on this time with their grandkids and say how fabulous they had the opportunity to do that.”
Born in Coundon, County Durham, Sara began her business atyork University with a simple patented enveloper.
Now the firm has more than 200 employees in the UK and the US, turns over more than £40million and sells into more than 40 countries worldwide. It has a strong online business, its owntv studios and a string of Crafter’s Companion shops.
Despite her millions she is keen not to spoil her sons.
“I want them to know they can’t be given things easily and they’ve got to work hard,” she insists. “I want them to grow up like I did, appreciating the value of money and not having everything handed to them.”
● Dragon’s Den, Thursday,
BBC One, 8pm
‘Important to be in the moment’