I am a working mother – part time, yes but I still work.

Working parents have it bad- there I said it out loud.

We have to work to earn Money, we need money to live but living with little bubbas increases the need for money. Those little poo filled creature are expensive!!

After my first child I struggled to find work to fit into my new schedule. I had to leave my job after maternity was over as the company I was working for wouldn’t adjust my hours. I couldn’t afford to work full time AND put my child in nursery full time. I would be working to pay for someone else to look after my child. Madness!

I retrained as a beauty therapist specialising in spa treatment like massage, facials and the likes. I loved it, I had found my calling but I soon realised after having my child that this was going to be a hard career to follow with minimum Childcare options.

I was lucky that my best friend had her own business and she was happy for me to do what I could. My mother in law looked after CC while I worked.

I broke my hand and that put an end to my massaging and I needed something else.

I have a background in childcare (told you I have done everything) and now work in social work and care. The hours are evenings and weekends leaving me free to care for the children and daddy to take over at night. It worked out but it’s not so lucky for others.

The cost of childcare is crazy; in Edinburgh has one of the highest costs for childcare in Scotland. You can expect to pay up to 900 pounds for a full time place in a private nursery. That’s a big chunk of change.

I have friends who are left with a very small 200 pound a month after paying for childcare out of her full time wages. EEK!

CC has recently started school nursery- the nursery CC attends has been chosen for a pilot scheme that offers 30 free hours of childcare, this is to be applied to the whole of Scotland by 2020 allowing parents the option to work or increase there working hours.

It does still come with cons such as the limited work day hours (9am-3.30pm) finding a job to fit in with flexible hours isn’t always easy.

Motherpukka, a well known blogger and influencer is known for her Flexappeal campaign, campaigning for more flexible working hours for parents and carers. This is to provide working without the guilt. Haven’t we all felt the eyes on us as we sneak out early from work leaving mountains or chaos behind for your co-workers to deal with?

As women we have the disadvantage that in the eyes of men and our bosses to be emotional baby machines. We will need time off to have a baby, to look after the baby, rush out when baby is sick and so on...we are superwomen. We can do all this, juggle a job, a husband/partner, run a house and still find time to have a glass of wine.

I think every woman has to struggle with the life work/balance. You don't want to be seen as a slacker as you sneak out of work early but again who only wants to see your children for an hour a day, we didn't have children for this.

My sister works full time and has struggled with child care, on the island that she lives childminders and nurseries are don't exist but she was so sure she was going back to work full time. She had worked hard to get where she was and she really enjoys her job.

My parent help out ALOT but this is the norm now a days due to the pressures of work and cost of childcare. My parents both still work full time and have the grand-kids most weekends. They wouldn't have it any other way - they bloody love kids!

I often find myself thinking I would rather struggle with money than be parted from my little ones. They are small for such a little time that before I know it I will be handing them over to Uni and wondering if they will ever call again but that’s not realistic, not for me any way.

I enjoy my current job role and it fits in with my life. I don’t have to pay for childcare and I get to spend my time with my children, watching them grow and develop. I find my work very social and enjoy that it breaks up my days. It also provides me with money so I don’t have to act like Oliver Twist every time I need something.

My hours were suited for me so I can be with the kids but my poor husband then has to pick up the slack.

With him finishing early on the days I work, he works later on the other days.

At least 3 days a week, he will be gone before we wake and home after we have gone to bed. See men don't have it so good either but this in turn ruins our family work/life balance.

The kids don't see there father for half the week and this can show in there behaviour when he is around. Often CC acts out when she is in his care and poor daddy can get thrown by this behaviour that he isn't as used to as he should.

These are the sacrifices we make to make life/work/parenthood work - slightly depressing don't you think?!

Maybe we may never find a balance, anyway guilt is part of parenthood right?

I would love to hear your stories and how you manage to balance motherhood and work.