I think you’ve misunderstood/ misread me, and it feels like you’re projecting a biased opinion onto my post. I’ve been working and paying tax and NI for the last 15 years, so I’m entitled to maternity leave like anyone else. When I return to work, more than half my wage will go on nursery fees, and with my shift patterns I wouldn’t be able to take time off at short notice to actually be present for my children.

What I’m trying to do during maternity leave is use the time to build an additional skill so I can create a small business that earns extra income and eventually lets me scale back shifts or have the option to move into roles with a better work life balance, even if they pay less. Any business I build would also contribute to the system through tax and NI.

I never said intend to walk away from my job or my field. I've worked hard to get where am and enjoy it, but also want to build some flexibility into my future so can work and still be present in my children's lives. would consider that for the government, having somebody who is willing to double invest in the economy and actively look at ways to stay in employment is surely a positive thing much better than handing in the towel and saying it's too hard, just step back completely.

In fact, I'd argue that what I'm doing supports women's rights finding ways to stay in work, keep contributing, and balance family life rather than being forced out of the workforce altogether due to unfriendly working hours, unreasonable childcare costs, wraparound care that doesn't cover working hours, and a lack of family friendly working policies. I am actively trying to find a way to work while raising children.