Times columnist Camilla Cavendish writes about the conflict of modern working mums while attending her seven-year-old-sons sports day. I’d say that was the perfect work-life balance and I’m proud that I never missed my sons’ sports days either.

Camilla’s report highlights the angst of Princeton Professor Anne-Marie Slaughter who gave up her senior job in the Obama Administration because it took too great a toll on her children. She found she was worrying about her son who had gone off the rails while she was supposed to be networking at grand Washington parties.

I have every confidence that with her great skills and contacts, Prof Slaughter will soon find a less demanding job that fits around her home life, she won’t be out of work for long.

And after all, does anyone ask their children what they would like regarding their parenting? My guess is they want more family time, but it’s nigh impossible to be all things to all people, which a working mum aspires to. That’s why I feel so fortunate to have had such interesting freelance work that I could fit around my family by being self-employed. We badly need more family friendly working hours for mums.

Admittedly, my two sons are grown up now, but you never stop being a mum, and it’s great to have my youngest home again university for the summer break while his brother graduates next week. How else would I have fitted in an 8 am breakfast networking meeting this morning in the centre of Cambridge, only to have my day thrown in disarray after my car is hit by a very apologetic motorist on the way home.  I then have to drop my work when I return to my office to make countless calls to sort out the repair.

As a result, I finished my work later than planned, which meant I couldn’t go on my longed for walk in Grantchester with my rambling group, to linger by Byon’s Pool, so I decided to use up my extra couple of hours this evening by preparing my mother’s tax return.

My youngest son has just returned from his holiday job at a BP garage. “I’m starving,” he yells. “What’s for dinner? Have you put the oven on?”

Isn’t that what mums do? It’s a cliche, but it really is the best job in the world, no doubt about it!

Prof Slaughter thinks so too….