THE FREELANCE MUM

Annie Ridout, 33, London

CONSULTANT, APP CO-FOUNDER, WRITER HOURS PER WEEK: TWO DAYS A WEEK PLUS EVENINGS

Before having my daughter and son, now aged four and one, I worked as a copywriter for a tech start-up on a full-time, rolling contract, plus was a journalist and blogger. Now, I have lots of jobs, including being a co-founder of an app.

Flexi working is really important to me. My parents were always around when I was growing up: Mum worked one day a week, so my dad took that day off.

I really value the time my parents put into raising me, alongside running their own businesses and I want this for my kids.

But both my husband, who is a filmmaker and builder, and I enjoy working.

When my daughter was a few weeks old, I was back writing articles. It made me feel like I was still connected to the old, adult, working world I’d been immersed ersed in pre-baby.

For us, flexible working means being able to continue ntinue developing g our careers, while spending nding loads of time as a family. amily.

Sometimes, mes, work and home life blur, and my kids ds moan because I’m m Instagramming ming or emailing when they want me to o read them a book. ok. But there are always sacrifices when it comes to family and d work. I hope pe when they’re older der they will understand d that, too.