The problem, she finds, as she struggles to stretch a load of laundry into an afternoon-long task, is that she simply has too much time on her hands. Ironically, experience shows that that luxury will be one of the first casualties of her return to work. In the working parent's world, says Sue Monk, chief executive of the campaigning charity Parents at Work, time disappears almost as quickly as the money paid out to child carers. No matter how understanding, clients and colleagues can't make too many dispensations because of your new parent status. But while you might before have been willing to put your career before all else and work weekends, early mornings or late evenings, a baby represents a much more pressing priority, and one which, inevitably, carries with it even more demanding hours.
Time management comes into play a lot more than it ever did before.
She and her husband co-ordinate their diaries on a weekly basis so that each day they both know exactly what they have to achieve. He takes the baby to the nursery in the morning, she picks him up at night. All their holidays are reserved for childcare and other emergencies. Ahsan's work life has also become much more regimented. Before her son was born, she would regularly toil away until 8pm or later.