DH and I have both worked full time since DD was 13 months old (she's now 6). DH is a teacher so he has school holiday time which makes a big difference, however during term time it can be a bit crazy. He has to start early, which means I am on morning shift each day and have to take DD to school. He is able to finish at a reasonable hour though and can pick DD up most days from ASC. He can sometimes be stuck though so I have to step in sometimes - luckily we are both only 15 minutes away from DD's school (and home).

I think I would find it more difficult if we didn't have a break during school holidays. It means DD gets lots of special time with her dad and it means I get a break from the drop off etc. Holiday time gives me a chance to stock up on the freezer meals to get us through the next 10 weeks.

The hardest year was when DH moved schools and DD was still at day care - it was close to my work (we used to work in the same town) so I had to do all the drop offs and pickups (except one each week when DH travelled an extra 35 minutes so I could go to the gym).

If DH wasn't a teacher, I think I would have looked harder at going back part time - it would be difficult in my role, but I think things at home would have fallen apart if we were trying to juggle leave with school holidays etc.

Evenings are busy - we've given up on trying to do reading then and now sit down straight after breakfast to read. You just have to work around and look outside the square!