HL: We’ve got a pretty good system on a daily basis. I get to drop the kids off in the morning, chase lost property and collect school notices, while Brad does the afternoon school pick-up and delivery to sporting and creative activities. It's a fairly busy schedule and we have to be organised, but it was important to us both to be able to participate in the children's school lives and be there to drop them off and pick them up. It's great that Brad is able to be an active Dad too and get as involved as I do in what the kids are doing.

C4K: When did you go back to work after having your child/children?

HL: The next day!!! When running your own business there is very little time off when you have children and I tended to work/check e-mails at any opportunity when the baby was sleeping. We tried to keep to our normal routine, with Brad working in the morning whilst I looked after the children (who at that stage were not in school) and then I would work in the afternoon whilst Brad looked after the kids. As we worked from home, I was able to stop work whenever the baby needed a breastfeed.

C4K:What were your main motivations to return to work?

HL: As a small business owner, my role was/is critical to the business and so I need to work from the point of view of continuing the business. I also enjoyed the break from domestic duties and a chance to exercise my brain with technical challenges on a daily basis!

C4K:What was the hardest thing about returning to work?

HL: Juggling everything that was needed from me, with just one pair of hands and only 24 hours in each day.

C4K: Who looks after the children when you work?

HL: We have an excellent Family Day Care mum, who happens, very conveniently, to live and work literally over the road from our house. We like that the kids are in a small family environment and are still very close by if we are needed. All the children have gone there and have enjoyed being in care together. Our youngest is now there with two of her cousins and another friend and they have a great time!

C4K: How did you find your child care?

HL: A lot of online searching - facilities like BubHub.com.au and Careforkids.com.au weren't around when I was initially looking for childcare 7 years ago. There was no child care centre near me, Brad was working and using the car during the day, so I needed something that I could walk to. Having searched for a child care centre, I tried family day care and came up trumps!

C4K: What were your main priorities while you were looking for child care?

HL:Caring, nurturing, safe environment, where the children received individual attention and had fun!.

C4K: What would you do differently if you were looking for child care again?

HL: Use one of the fabulous online search facilities now available to find out about the options available, rather than having to find brochures and look through yellow pages!

C4K: What are the main benefits of your child care arrangement and/or having your child in care?

HL: My children have greatly benefited from a couple of days a week in care. It's given them an opportunity to get used to independence - in preparation for kindy/prep/school. It's given them a chance to make friends outside of Brad and my circle of friends and their children. It's given them a different adult perspective on training their behaviour, ways to play with them and different activities to try.

C4K: Have you any amusing or heart-warming child care experiences?

HL: Just generally really our carer really is excellent - she teaches the children so much, is endlessly patient with them, whilst being firm, and the kids just love going there. My 7 year old still asks to go there for the odd day or two during school holidays!