Almost every parent I know talks about the guilt that comes with splitting time between work and parenting. They feel pulled in different directions, and frequently that they are unable to fulfil either role. I suspect that solo mums feel this especially keenly: there’s no one to share bedtimes with if I’m working late; if I end up working over the weekend this not only eats into my time with my daughter, but means that she’s left playing alone…or more often, tapping my laptop and saying she’s helping mummy work.