Georgie Gardener

I'm doing the news on the Today show, and it's great because I really love live TV. The adrenaline keeps you on the edge of your seat. I've done all sorts of news-presenting roles throughout my career in journalism, but this is all I can fit in at the moment. Like so many mothers around the country, I'm trying to juggle work and family.

I have two lovely children, Bronte [two] and little Angus [10 months]. Angus was just six months when I went back to work so I have only been back for a short time. But so far, it seems to be going well.

I find my work totally invigorating. There was never any question about whether I would go back to work or not after having children, because I really love what I do. I find it's a 'me' compartment in my life.

It's an opportunity to switch on a different part of my brain and do something I find extremely challenging.

I work in a competitive and cut-throat industry, and I feel it would be a shame after years of working my way up to give it all away. I have learned a lot over the years, and I feel I bring more to the job as a mother.

Choosing to work or be a stay-at-home mum — it's a personal thing. What may work for one mother might not work for another. I have total respect for those who choose to be full-time mothers. There's not a shadow of doubt that it's the hardest and the most rewarding job. Being a mother in the early years can be a thankless task. But for me, the combination of work and motherhood is ideal. My heart breaks for women who don't have a choice.

If you can do both and manage it, it's challenging and it grounds you. I take my role as a mother seriously — but I believe I'm a better mother for it [working], and I think it sets a good example to both my daughter and son.

I'm lucky as the job is quite conducive to motherhood. I get up at 3.30am and I'm at work by 4am to prepare for the show to be on air from six to nine. The wonderful thing about my job is that I can be home by 10am so I'm not away from the children for too long. But by 5pm I'm knackered — and the children are fractious.

My husband [Tim Baker] starts work earlier now so he's home by 6.30pm. That's the key to our success — we have two sets of hands on deck.

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