‘It’s shameful to make working parents feel bad’

Sarah Turner, 30, from Exeter, is a mummy blogger and author of The Unmumsy Mum. She’s married and has three children, Jude, six, Henry, three, and Wilf, three months. Sarah says:

“Lauren’s rant about working parents is frustrating. Juggling parenthood with work commitments is a challenge. You’re trying to do what’s best for your kids while at the same time putting in the work hours because you want to work or, as is equally likely, because you need to work. The last thing you need is judgement from others.

“I went back to my job working in a university part-time five months after having my eldest sons. They were looked after by a combination of family and a childminder. When I later left work to become self-employed, I still used a childminder.

“Every parent who goes to work will at some point feel guilty. It’s never easy handing over your baby to somebody other than close family, but some people have no choice. And I’m sure many parents would much prefer to stay at home, but many simply have to work to make ends meets.

“Parents must do whatever best suits their own circumstances. I don’t see why it is shameful to want to continue working after you have kids. I also don’t think it’s shameful if you decide you don’t want to work. What is shameful is making another parent feel bad for a decision they have almost certainly not taken lightly.”