I have to say, I’m in awe of you.
We’ve all chuckled at that iconic BBC interview where a dad’s live Skype session about South Korean democracy turned into a comedic chaos with his kids storming in. It was the highlight of my year until I saw a parody that flipped the script, imagining if it were a working mom instead. And honestly, it was funny because it felt so real.
But beneath that humor lies a serious truth: Working moms, I genuinely don’t know how you manage it all.
The Morning Hustle
How do you rise each morning, getting not only your little ones dressed but also yourself? You make sure your hair and makeup are on point, and you actually wear real clothes (not just leggings). Yet somehow, you pull it off.
The Breakfast Rush
How do you whip up breakfast, pack lunches, and get those tiny humans to sit still long enough to eat, all while mentally gearing up for the day ahead at work? But you do it.
The School Drop-Off
I’m baffled by how you tackle the school drop-off, ensure that all-important “last kiss” is delivered, and then navigate your way to work, arriving on time despite the chaos. But you do.
The Balancing Act
You juggle meetings, pediatrician visits, sick kids, and conference calls while ignoring the eye rolls from those who don’t understand that you need to leave by 5 p.m. (I can practically hear the snickers: “Oh, short day today?”) — but somehow, you make it work.
You keep track of permission slips, birthday presents, and still put together that PowerPoint for a room full of people. It is wild, yet you manage it.
The Evening Routine
When your workday wraps up, you sprint home to dive into your second, more demanding job. You prepare dinner, listen to your kids recount their day, smiling through the bittersweet moments you wish you could’ve been there for. You admire their artwork, help with homework, settle disputes, kiss away the boo-boos, manage bath time, and read bedtime stories. Then, once the lights are out, it’s time to run your household: ensuring uniforms are clean, sorting through the mail, and grabbing precious moments with your partner.
I don’t know how you do it, but you do.
The Unsung Heroes
You are the unsung heroes, the true champions of feminism, the foot soldiers of modern parenting. Much of what you accomplish goes unnoticed because you make it seem effortless. You ensure your kids never doubt their importance in your life while simultaneously climbing the corporate ladder, paving the way for others.
There’s often chatter about judgment between different groups of women—those who stay home versus those who choose to work. In my experience, I’ve never felt that divide. No matter our choices, there’s often guilt involved. Stay-at-home moms feel regret over halted careers, while working moms deal with the internal struggle of being torn between two worlds.
Judgment? It has no place here.
They say it takes a village, and while working moms may have a team behind them, in the wee hours, you’re still the one in charge. When your kids are sick, you’re still the go-to. You are the one ensuring everything runs smoothly, and for that, you deserve all the credit for navigating this impossible job, regardless of how much help you have.
A Heartfelt Thank You
So from my little corner of reality, I want to say this: Thank you, working mom. Thank you for tackling the hardest job in the world and making it look so simple. Thank you for brushing off judgment from those who don’t understand, simply because you’re too busy for that nonsense. Thank you for leaving meetings early, ignoring the sighs, just to be there for your kids.
Every day you work towards normalizing a work-life balance for parents, even when it costs you some pride. Thank you for reminding us that the person you were before children still matters, even if it’s transformed.
Thank you for holding the door open for those of us who may take longer to return to the workforce, ensuring the path remains clear for us.
I don’t know how you do it, but truly, thank you. You’re my hero.
With appreciation,
A Grateful Mom