That was, undeniably, the main thought running through my head in the first few months after my eldest, Little O, was born. That, and 'what the hell have I done', 'where did I put the sodding Sudocrem' and wondering when my downstairs would stop feeling like the aftermath of a nuclear explosion.

Flexible working itself requires highly sought-after skills, and we should not be afraid to draw this to the attention of recruiters and employers. We will need to prove ourselves and the value we bring. We are a flexible working PR and Communications consultancy, and here are some of the lessons we have learnt from our own experience:

I felt angry at nobody other than myself; I should have pushed harder so that it hadn't got to this stage. The person who needs me most, I had let down badly and no matter how many supportive words of there being nobody who could fight harder for this boy, it does not soothe the pain I feel right now.

The first was a pre-natal group. I quickly bonded with Louise, Caroline, Emma, Jackie and Julie and we started meeting in each others' houses. When our babies arrived, it was clear that mine had health issues and developmental delays, while theirs were all within the 'normal range' (whatever that may be).

As a mother of three children under ten, it dawned on me through extensive google searches that there were no original songs to bridge the gap between nursery rhymes and mainstream pop. Nothing that children could really identify with or hope to have a frame of reference for.

I sometimes look at this little dude, not even 11 months old but with the greatest zest for life I've ever known in any human being, and feel his enthusiasm smashing me in the face and screaming at me to start enjoying myself more.

I sometimes look at this little dude, not even 11 months old but with the greatest zest for life I've ever known in any human being, and feel his enthusiasm smashing me in the face and screaming at me to start enjoying myself more.

I was scrolling through Facebook when I noticed a post on a local mums group within my area. A lady was asking if she could share her business page. This particular business page offered a specific service that was free of charge.

How can we harness the power in music, to help us on our parenting journey? How can we best use music to bond with our children, to share joyful moments, to play and to comfort? How can we teach musicality?

We have a baby and a toddler (nine months old and two years old) so telling friends "we're going away for the weekend, staying in a hotel", usually results in them commenting, "oh nice, that'll be interesting." And what they mean by "interesting" is a pain in the arse.

Yesterday was a game of two halves for me, a bit of a rollercoaster. I woke up early enough to have a decent length shower, wash my hair, dry it (shock) and put on a full face of makeup. All before the little man demanded breakfast.

You've probably seen Annie or Oliver so you know about adoption? The tear stained lovable but unloved child that overcomes adversity to make good with some benevolent and well healed adoptive parents.

So often I hear people with older or grown-up children say to me "appreciate this time - it's so precious, and over so quickly." I tend to reply, "Oh, I do." But what does it really mean to "appreciate" it, and how do we make sure we are?

I don't know if this is specific to my own type of anxiety, if it's common amongst those who suffer in general, or if it's just standard in even the most calm natured of mothers, but every day I have to process my daughter's death.

Growing up as a Catholic, I am aware that guilt is a wonderful feeling.  As long as you feel it, you are let off the hook and can continue in your pattern, safe in the knowledge that with a little genuflection and a few 'Hail Marys', you'll be OK.  You can stay feeling unworthy and there will be countless opportunities for those more powerful than you (advertiser's dream...) to make you pay.

When I became a dad to a daughter I had a friend who said that this would be the greatest love story of my life. At the time I shrugged it off as I am also a father to two sons. However, around the age of two my daughter started spending more and more time choosing to play with me over her mother (which was upsetting to my wife) and I began to understand what my friend had meant.