Your comments and Views

I have been freelancing since my daughter was 6 months old which has been great for us as a family as I have been able to spent so much time at home. However, my daughter is now nearly three and we need the guarentee of a steady income. I have good earning potential so I am going back to work full-time. I feel so guilty about leaving my little girl but know that I cannot leave my career any longer if I want to go back in at the same level. I console myself that she will be in school in just over a year and know that my wage will ensure a good standard of living. I have loved my time at home but know that I will enjoy my time in adult company having adult conversations. I need to learn not to blame myself for everytime something goes wrong, for every cold my little girl gets or for every sleepless night she may have. I need to remember it is my life too and that she will love me no less for it - nor I her.

Hayley

I'm not a mum yet, but my mum was a working mum and I am so proud of her! Her career really took off when she turned 40 and she loves it. I know it makes her happy. My grandparents are really horrible about her working, but I think she made the best choice.

Samantha Morris

I currently work Part Time and have since my son was 4 months old. He is now 4 and I am going back to work Full Time as I cant afford to buy a house with my new partner without doing so. I feel more guilty than ever. Although my son seems happy with his Child Minder, I cant help feeling I'm letting him down and leaving him all the time, with either my mum, sister or childminder. I want him to have a worry free childhood ( I did not ) and I want to be able to take him on Holidays and such like. I know material things are not solely important, but without working life even with my partner would be a struggle. I hate leaving him everyday and feel he will grow to resent me, and ask me why I was never there and why I put the material things 1st.

I know there is no point in bleating on.

Kerry

After having my children I was stuck in a rut and not able to return to work as the market place had moved on. I came across Kleeneze. This enabled me to earn money around my children. I had heard all the rumours but all I can say is that it worked for me.

Rachel

My daughter is three now and I've been back at work full-time for a year after separating from my ex-husband. It has been hard at times, but its important to maintain good communications with your friends and family network. My job has excellent prospects that will benefit us in the future. Working means that we can afford to offer our children more opportunties than we would if we didn't work. It's all well and good being at home, but not so good if you have no money to have a good quality of life. When I feel guilty I remind myself of all the good things working enables us to do as a family. Plan quality time, on your next day off forget the housework (It's not going anywhere) and do something fun that both you and your child will enjoy. Also having a cleaner in once a week can be relatively inexpensive. I am a happier, more balanced person for working. And happy parents make happier children!

Lara

I am a working mum of three. The youngest being just 8 months. I returned to work when she was 5 months and it has been quite hard, gradually getting easier as I go along. My sons are 9 and 6 and quite a handful. I work term time only now so at least I feel a little less guilty for needing to work as I can look forward to each half term holiday, which to be honest is not really a break as I have 3 children to entertain and supervise 24/7!! I would like to compare notes with other working mums, particularly those with babies.

Julie Edwards

I'm not actually a mum I'm the 15 year old daughter of a woman who works amazingly hard to give my 8 year old brother and I the things we need/want. My dad has his own business which means that alot of the time my mum is bringing in most of the money. I'm at stage school which is costing my parents a fortune in school fees and epuipment. My mum is quite open with me about our finacial situation as she knows I understand, this has made me alot more sensible with my own money. Unfortunately I know that my mum feels guilty about not being at home for my brother as he doesn't really understand, so she compensates for this by buying him things and letting him get his own way which ends up with him being impossible to control. My dad & I can never get him to do anything. I just thought I'd share my situation with you.

“I'm a mum to a 12 month old gorgeous little boy called Luke. I came back to work when he was 9 months old. I have a good job, not too stressful. I find every task I carry out has a dependency, one thing goes wrong it has a domino effect on everything else. That's when I find things become stressful. I have lots of guilty feelings about working full time and also about not giving my son quality me time when I'm home because I feel so tired. If I'm honest I would probably be a bit cranky because I find it hard to entertain a toddler all day. Working full time allows me to have interaction with adults and the financial freedom to treat Luke to lots of things I wouldn't on a budget. My partner is very supportive but has his own business so unfortunately this adds to the stress sometimes“.