I know I'm lucky - financially I don't REALLY have to work - we could just about manage on DP's salary BUT he's a shiftworker and I returned to work partly to give me a break. He often works weekends so often one day drifts into another.

Anyhow, slightly off topic. The thing is, I've worked for nearly 20 years. I earn a good salary in a big organisation but when I said I wanted to return part-time the only job they could find me was two levels below what I used to do and the sort of work I could do with my eyes closed. To give you an idea of how mind-numbing the work is for me, I turn up at 9.30, I sometimes have a two-hour lunch and am out of there at 4.30pm. I work five days a fortnight and a lot of the time I get as much done as the full-timers. That's not based on my opinion, it's based on our targets.

Yes, for some people, I'm sure that would be bliss especially as I'm paid at my old rate. But I hate it. I'm not someone who likes easy work. I want a challenge.

Plus I feel that I have sacrificed my career. It's going backwards. If I carry on doing this until DD goes to school I will not have anything worthwhile to put on my resume.

So I guess my question is, for those who've returned to work part-time, were you given challenging work to do or does your employers' attitude appear to be (as it appears to be for me) ... "we've given you part-time work, be grateful for what you've got."