After nearly four years at home with my pandemic baby, I was ready to go back to work. Desperate to, really. So when I was offered a communications manager job the same day I interviewed, I felt energised.

It was December and I would start in January. I told everyone I knew all about it. I bought shirts, shoes and a blazer.

After years of isolation at home and conversations only about babies or with babies, I loved being back at work. My husband commented on how much more energy I had, despite the earlier mornings and long commutes .

The government’s scheme to subsidise fifteen hours of childcare made it financially viable, and I was grateful to be earning again.

Then two weeks later I had to quit .

It was absolutely mortifying – explaining to my new employer that I couldn

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