Today is National Working Parents Day, a day to pay tribute to parents who work to provide for their family. While I always thought I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, it turns out that returning to work part time after baby makes me happier, healthier, and a better mom during the time I do spend with my son. Going to work allows me to exercise my brain, connect with other people, and feel productive, which are all important pieces of my identity that I missed while on maternity leave. Returning to work was the right decision for me because each day it helps me to feel more like my “old self,” and afterwards, I’m refreshed and ready to be my “mom self” again.

So while some of us are working parents by necessity (‘cause bills), and others are working parents by choice, I think we can all appreciate these 9 women who share a glimpse into their own experiences as working parents, speaking the truth about heading back to work after kids.  Let them remind you that the highs and lows of being a working parent are normal, and that you are most definitely not alone on this journey.

  1. From k.la.fit

“Every moment with this girl is something I try to cherish. It can be something as simple as a trip to the grocery store. She is my WHY. The reason why I work so hard every day. The reason why I still work my fitness business after putting her to bed at night. . . Currently sitting here at work wishing I was at home playing and reading books with her.”

  1. From rustickmom

“ . . . this photo captures what life is like being a working mom with littles. Rushing to get ready for work and get the kids ready for daycare while trying to be somewhat on time and look somewhat presentable. All while the baby is playing with tampons, tearing apart the jewelry cabinet [but] . . . I’m so happy to have this photo. Someday when they have moved on from needing to be within two feet of their mom, I’m sure I will look at this with a very full heart. A heart that will wish I would have slowed down to enjoy these moments of chaos more.”

 

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Evelyn snapped this photo while I was getting ready this morning. I almost deleted it because its blurry and it’s not the most flattering angle of me (clearly I need to teach her more about my “good side” ), but I decided to keep and share it. I share because I know moms can relate to this and for you to know that it is normal to be a hot mess at times. #likeeveryday #hello But really this photo captures what life is like being a working mom with littles. Rushing to get ready for work and get the kids ready for daycare while trying to be somewhat on time and look somewhat presentable. All while the baby is playing with tampons, tearing apart the jewelry cabinet, with a basket on the toilet to keep her hands out of and off of the toilet bowl (learned that one the hard way ) and junk just about every where. Which I clean up every dang day. And the older one yelling demands from the other room, which I can’t hear so we yell back and forth to each other. Then find her taking a million photos, including ones of said toilet, angles of my body that no one should ever see and of her sister making yet another mess. Oh and I never actually take time to delete those photos then my phone blinks that the storage is full at that perfect photo opportunity moment. ‍♀️ And you know what…I’m so happy to have this photo. Someday when they have moved on from needing to be within two feet of their mom, I’m sure I will look at this with a very full heart. A heart that will wish I would have slowed down to enjoy these moments of chaos more. #easiersaidthandone This last year has quite literally flown by in the blink of an eye. So I’m terrified at how fast the next ones will go. In that, I’m trying my hardest to slow down time when I can. Moral of the story…Try to find some joy the chaos. Be okay being a little messy. And remember that you’ve got this, momma, no matter how hard some days can be. ❤️

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  1. From z.beltran

“She asked me to take a picture of her “working.” We took smiling pictures and then she wanted pictures of her looking at paperwork and pretending to type. We think they don’t pay attention in the midst of them on play dates, watching YouTube, and crying at stores for toys… but our children are watching.”

  1. From lightlivingmama

“In that zombified mode where you’ve been rushing work past midnight for the last few nights and your kid is having a growth spurt, is clingy and grumpy, so hard to put to bed, and wakes up in the middle of the night. So, at breakfast you give her snacks, turn on wiggles and stare mindlessly at your phone because your brain was so stressed and busy piecing together PowerPoint slides and converting texts into icons in your dreams. . . So, let’s imagine we’re back to floating in the pool and chilling instead of being exhausted and wiped out.”

 

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TGIF x In that zombified mode where you’ve been rushing work past midnight for the last few nights and your kid is having a growth spurt, is clingy and grumpy, so hard to put to bed, and wakes up in the middle of the night. . So at breakfast you give her snacks, turn on wiggles and stare mindlessly at your phone because your brain was so stressed and busy piecing together powerpoint slides and converting texts into icons in your dreams. And then, back to the laptop again with wiggles messing your brain in the background. . So let’s imagine we’re back to floating in the pool and chilling instead of being exhausted and wiped out, the weekend really couldn’t come any sooner. Any mama out there feel me? . p.s Scroll to the last photo to see her grumpy face when we took her out of the water ha. #badmoms #tootired #momproblems #momminainteasy #thatfacethough #toocute #allworthit

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  1. From esrasmiles

“Do you have kids?” someone asked me at an education fair in Colorado last week. I said yes, I have a three-year-old. “Oh!” she looked at me surprised. “Who watches your child when you’re gone and travel for work?” . . . Fact is, I don’t get these kinds of questions from my male colleagues. I get these kinds of questions from other women! Another female colleague asked me the same thing today. TBH that scares me because they are going to raise little girls and instill this mindset into the next generation. So, Mommy can’t leave for a couple of days for work?! It doesn’t even come to their mind that maybe my child has a father, too? A Dad who is very much involved and capable of parenting on his own for a couple of days, who also loves his child and who respects and supports me having my own career?!”

 

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“Do you have kids?” someone asked me at an education fair in Colorado last week. I said yes, I have a three year old. “Oh!” she looked at me surprised. “Who watches your child when you’re gone and travel for work?” For a split second, I considered giving her a feministic progressive monologue about how it’s 2019 and she really shouldn’t even be asking me this question. And that she didn’t ask any of our male colleagues from the other colleges about their kids and “choice of child care”. Instead, I looked her dead serious in her eyes and said “The dog.” (Lol we don’t even have a dog). Walter, my colleague who set up his table next to me and who is a retired Army guy with a very dry sense of humor burst out laughing. Fact is, I don’t get these kinds of questions from my male colleagues. I get these kinds of questions from other women! Another female colleague asked me the same thing today. Tbh that scares me because they are going to raise little girls and instill this mindset into the next generation. So Mommy can’t leave for a couple of days for work?! It doesn’t even come to their mind that maybe my child has a father, too? A Dad who is very much involved and capable of parenting on his own for a couple of days, who also loves his child and who respects and supports me having my own career?! Hahaha that poor lady last week was so confused. She didn’t know if I was joking or not. I’ll never forget her face bottom line is… Yes, my husband is in the military. Yes, we have a child. Yes, I’m a Working Mom. Of course I feel guilty for being gone a lot lately and hell yeah I miss my kid. But if I was a man, no one cared who’s watching my child at home while I’m out there contributing to society or just doing my damn job! Do you guys want to hear my political correct and professional response though?! This is what I added last week and what I said today: “We are fortunate that my husband’s job currently allows him to be home every night, so he is with my son who btw is in preschool now.” “Ooooh” ”Aaaaw that’s good!” Yeah, welcome to 2019. Good times and justification lines! #workingmomlife #milso

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  1. From burgesshillfarms

“I along with my husband own and operate a first-generation farm . . . I am a #bosslady, go-getter, don’t give up, and prove every day to my children that hard work ethic will earn you more respect than most anything else. Misunderstood by some because of my willingness to work in a male-dominated industry. I just hold up my glass (that may have coffee or my favorite whiskey in it) and wink at them.”

 

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Welcome new followers and “Hello” from me to you. I haven’t really introduced myself in a while on here. My name is Jenny Burgess. I live in rural Kansas. I grew up not too far from where I reside now, just a few country roads from our small town. My life is filled with crazy schedules with my ✌ kids, my hubs, and our farm. Our story and lives could be the next country song. I met my hubs when I was 15 and working in a restaurant. He was a young buck who just got off an airplane from the U.K. and placed with a local harvest crew. We became good friends and he finally had the gumption to date this country girl when she turned 18. Married a year later, kids, and a dream came along in with the wild mix of our crazy lives. I along with my husband own and operate a first-generation farm. We were told that we’d never make it. And just like an only hard-headed child, I am, (my parents will agree) I said. “Bet me. We will.” I am a #bosslady, go-getter, don’t give up, and prove every day to my children that hard work ethic will earn you more respect than most anything else. Misunderstood by some because of my willingness to work in a male-dominated industry. I just hold up my glass (that may have coffee or my favorite whiskey in it) and wink at them. ☕ by my daughter. #introducution #sundayfunday #hereiam #newfollowers #provethemwrong #entrepreneurlife #momlifebelike #momoftwokids #amuturephotographer #farmlifebestlife #livingmydreams #coffee_inst #whiskeygirl #kansaslife

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  1. From lynnmwinter

“Most social media posts present polished final products (while the real life BTS remains unseen). Well, here is true, BTS mom-life at its finest–at the salon getting my hair done with a kiddo in my lap who is spilling crackers all over the place (crackers some sweet person gave us from her purse).”

 

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Most social media posts present polished final products (while the real life BTS remains unseen).⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ Well, here is true, BTS mom-life at its finest–at the salon getting my hair done with a kiddo in my lap who is spilling crackers all over the place (crackers some sweet person gave us from her purse).⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ I have preached that as a mom you need to find your tribe. Well, it just so happens this “tribe” is @tribesalonftw You just have to love a place that you get everything done under one roof (seriously I’m currently here for a facial and cut/color) and E can run around like she owns the place. ⁣ And.. question for you all, to chop off all my hair or just trim? What do you think?⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ #fortworthtx #fortworthinsta #fortworthsalon #fortworthlocal #shopsmallfortworth #fortworthhair #fortworthhairstylist #fortworthbeauty ⁣ #instadfw #lawyerlife #lawyermommylife #workingmom #workingmomlife #busymomlife #onestopbeautyshop

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  1. From vickichanmd

“I know this might sound crazy, and I am so grateful for the time I have with my family – BUT as a #workingmama, sometimes I look forward to the mornings I go into work. Because, on the days I go into clinic, I get real bathroom breaks without little hands under the door, feel productive (I can get more than half a thing done!), and lastly, at work I actually feel like I know what I’m doing.”

 

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THE WORKING MOM CONUNDRUM . I know this might sound crazy, and I am so grateful for the time I have with my family – BUT as a #workingmama, sometimes I look forward to the mornings I go into work. . Because, on the days I go into clinic , I: . enjoy normal adult conversations (usually ) . don’t have to deal with tantrums (usually ) . eat my own lunch (my very own! without having to worry about what the kids will/won’t eat) . get real bathroom breaks without little hands under the door . feel productive (I can get more than 1/2 a thing done…! ) . And lastly, at work I actually feel like I know what I’m doing. ‍⚕️ Because after years of training, experience, and feedback, I think I got this doctor job thing down. Motherhood not so much. #justwingingit . Anyone else feel this way? . #liveVICTORIOUS✌#doctormom #womeninmedicine

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  1. From the.unexpected.life

“First day of school (for me) 2019, and one of us is very excited for the year that lies ahead. Today I start a new job at a university an hour away from home, and the kids are commuting with me so they can spend the day with Gram and Gramps and Mimi and Papa who also live there. It’s not ideal to travel with them, but it’s a brilliant opportunity, and it’s only one day a week as I was miraculously able to schedule all eleven of my voice students for the same day. So, cheers to marathon teaching days, a year of making beautiful music, and two precious children who are the most super of troopers.”

 

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First day of school (for me) 2019, and one of us is very excited for the year that lies ahead. Today I start a new job at a university an hour away from home, and the kids are commuting with me so they can spend the day with Gram and Gramps and Mimi and Papa who also live there. It’s not ideal to travel with them, but it’s a brilliant opportunity, and it’s only one day a week as I was miraculously able to schedule all eleven of my voice students for the same day. So cheers to marathon teaching days, a year of making beautiful music, and two precious children who are the most super of troopers. #theunexpectedlife #firstdayofschool #teacherlife #workingmom #singerlife #collegeprofessor #music #sopranolife

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  1. From t_inthebox

“My best friend. Yesterday was the most time I had spent away from my baby since he was born. And man was it hard. I kept feeling like a part of me was missing. Here’s to a new challenge of being a #WorkingMom.”

Kirsten Clark is a teacher, mom, wife, reader, podcast junkie and sometimes writer. She lives with her family in Alberta, Canada on Treaty 8 Territory.

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