It has been a long week for me at work in the terms of the hours spent out of the house trying to get all my work done. 12 to 13 hours out of the house, I think, is a long day when you have a young family.

Many mums who work a reduced week often find themselves working longer so that they can have time at home later in the week. Guilt often comes into play - you feel guilty when you have to leave the office while colleagues are still working, or guilty when you have to put work before family on occasion.

If I need to stay late at work it is hubby who needs to manage everything at home. This involves collecting from school and nursery, making tea and feeding, getting the kids bathed, reading bedtime stories and starting to prepare for the next day, all while making dinner for us! This is a tall order for anyone after a full day’s work. My husband does this with ease and is happy to do so. I know many husbands who would not be able to do this, either due to work commitments, or because they just do not have the capability to do it or the desire to!

For us this set up works well. The children get to see both of us throughout the week, Benjamin sees a good role model in his dad, and it allows me to keep a career going as well as having time to be just Mum.

I really appreciated my two days at home this week. I enjoyed doing the school run and chatting to other mums. Molly and I spent a lovely day relaxing at home, out meeting with NCT friends, shopping and walking through the park in the sunshine. What a shock it was when the sunshine turned to snow at the weekend – Benjamin loved playing in it though.

I enjoy working because no two days in my week are ever the same for me. It makes me appreciate my time at home and it affords us as a family other luxuries. I have come to realise more than ever that quality time at home is more important than anything else.  I could not achieve this without our ‘Fab Dad!’

Benjamin in the snow in April!

Molly chilling out on a Friday with a magazine!

Molly and her NCT friends