Working mums should stop punishing themselves

Yesterday I read a brief article in the Evening Standard by Rosamund Urwin. Title above.

She's right, working mums should stop punishing themselves. Can someone tell me how though please?!

Apparently Harriet Harman said at the weekend "to be a mother is to feel guilty". "It's the lot of every working woman to think that they could and should be doing more at home and they could and should be doing more at work." No disagreements there Harriet. Last Wednesday is a prime example. I had just got back from a two week holiday, priorities had been re-aligned and what's life about had been defined. Then:

0650 Leave for work
0710 Get on train
0745 Call from Childminder - son has been sick - should she take him to pre-school (HIS 3rd DAY!!)
DILEMMA: I must go home, I am his mother, he is ill. There is no option. vs. I have 8 weeks left before maternity leave. I have been on holiday for 2 weeks. They will think I'm slacking. vs. I have never taken a day off to look after my ill son, surely they'll understand.....
0750 Get off train at Vauxhall
0750 get on train home at Vauxhall

You really can't win, whatever you choose you feel guilty.  It's wrong, we should stop punishing ourselves, but I just can't see how. As long as we get that patronising look, or the "we completely understand" comment, the guilt of not always being able to give 100% to work will never go away.

And as long as you get home from work at 6.30pm, having collected your son and bought dinner and as soon as your husband walks through the door he challenges why you haven't run your son's bath and why you let him wipe his own bottom.... you'll never really think you've given 100% to being a mother either.

So for now Rosamund, I admire your theory... but have you tried it?!