Whatever your motivation for returning to work - whether it's for financial reasons or wanting to get back to a more stimulating environment - there's a big gap between thinking about it and actually doing so.

For starters you have to be sure that it's what you really want. You could live to regret it if you are just responding to pressure from others. After all plenty of high-fliers have given up their glittering careers precisely because they are sick of the rat race and want to spend more time with their kids.

Making the big decision
Weigh up the costs and the benefits of returning to work, considering both the real and hidden costs, including childcare, travel, work clothes and lunches. Then there are the things you may miss out on while you are at work (including the opportunity to attend school events) and the implications on your well-being in terms of stress and tiredness.

If you want to be at home when the kids get in, consider temping, part-time work, teaching or working at home

If you want to continue with your leisure interests in the evenings, consider trading off an interesting job for one with few after hours demands

If you want to get home quickly in the evenings, you may have to give up the idea of a better job with a long commute and aim for a less rewarding one closer to home.

Developing new skills
Whether you are looking for a radical change or simply want to return to your old career, there are abundant opportunities for learning new skills and brushing up on old ones. A huge variety of courses are now run within colleges, schools and community education institutions. You can also think about distance learning, including text based, multi-media and online courses.

You can get free information and advice on over 500,000 different courses from LearnDirect and more general information about training opportunities for women returners from the WRN Directory.

Family friendly companies
As a would-be working mum, you will find it useful to check the opportunities available in companies with 'family friendly' policies. These are the employers which offer working arrangements like parental/emergency leave, flexible working, childcare help, job share schemes and allowing employees to work from home.

The research indicates that such practices benefit both employers and employees. Companies like Asda, BMW, Lloyds TSB, Prudential and Unilever all report improved staff morale and increased profits as direct consequences of helping their employees balance their working lives with family responsibilities. Check the ACAS website for more details on family friendly policies, or read our guide to the top family friendly companies.

Childcare
If you have to organise childcare, you have a number of options including child-minders, day nurseries, playgroups, nursery schools and nannies. The lucky few find an employer which offers a company crèche.

Whatever you decide, this is going to be the biggest cost of returning to work, from a minimum of £75 per week for a full-time childminder to a maximum of £400 per week for a full-time nanny. The weekly costs of day nurseries vary, but average prices for a full time place per week are £90 - £160. However, nursery costs can sometimes be subsidised by the local authority or by employers. If your child is four, you are entitled to a free part-time place in a school nursery, playgroup or day nursery. Contact your local Children's Information Service for more information. For National and Local Childcare information check the Childcare website. To find out how to make up to £55 a week in free childcare click here

Confidence tricks
It's amazing how even the most confident women can feel demoralised after just a few years of caring for a family. The most common fears include getting through the hustle and bustle of the rush hour, making conversation with adults after years of 'toddler talk' and misgivings about using new technology.

However working is often a piece of cake after running a busy household and caring for children. Women all too often undervalue the social and organising skills that they acquire in these roles. Most of these talents are highly transferable to the workplace – if only we can learn to recognise and value them.

If lack of confidence is an issue for you, consider one or more the following strategies:

Attending a college refresher course to update your skills and to make contact with other people in the same position as yourself

Asking friends to tell you where they think your strengths lie

Creating a brilliant CV to summarise your achievements, skills and personal qualities

Positive thinking to eliminate negative messages and replace them with statements of encouragement

Enhancing your self-esteem by giving yourself a makeover and buying a new outfit.

Follow these guidelines and you will achieve miracles – there's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it! So get focused, make your plans carefully and go for it.

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