‘Everyone’s winging it’: expectations of working parent life v the messy reality

Many working mums find that flexibility is key to maintaining a work-life balance, so make sure you read your company’s policies and speak to HR. Photograph: Getty Images

Scrolling through social media, it’s easy to think that motherhood will be a series of picture-perfect scenes: fun-yet-educational days out, matchy-matchy outfits and wholesome home-cooked meals.

But as any working parent will know, this is far from the case. Like, reeeaaally far from the case.