The Raw Truth About Motherhood & Working From Home

The Reality of Motherhood While Working From Home

Losing my mother in 2013 when my daughters were just 2 years old and an infant completely changed my experience of parenting. As a work-from-home mom trying to balance career and childcare, I quickly learned some hard truths about modern motherhood.

The Myth of Multitasking: Parenting While Working

• 14-minute reality check: The romantic notion of simultaneously working and parenting collapses within minutes
• Constant interruptions: Feedings, diaper changes, sibling fights, and endless "Mom!" calls derail productivity
• Guilt-driven cycles: Saying yes to kids means working until 2am; saying no leaves you feeling like a failure

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Stay-at-Home Motherhood

Conflicting Feelings About Full-Time Parenting

• Resentment is normal: It's okay to sometimes dislike the stay-at-home mom role
• Identity loss: Many mothers fear losing their creative selves under the "Mom" identity
• No need to sugarcoat: Messy emotions don't require happy disclaimers

What No One Tells You About Early Motherhood

• Physical exhaustion: Unwashed hair, spit-up stained clothes, and constant bodily demands
• Frustration with advice: "Enjoy every minute" feels impossible during the hardest phases
• Partner dynamics: Watching a spouse leave for work can trigger complex emotions

Finding Balance as a Work-From-Home Parent

Practical Strategies That Helped Me Survive

1. Accept imperfection: Some days you'll be a subpar employee and parent - and that's okay
2. Create boundaries: Sometimes locking yourself away with Scooby-Doo is necessary
3. Night owl productivity: Many work-from-home moms get their best work done after bedtime

The Transition When Kids Start School

After eight years of intensive parenting, my youngest starting kindergarten brought:

• Rediscovering solitude: Relearning how to be alone after years of constant demands
• Mixed emotions: Both grief and relief are valid parts of the transition
• Child empathy: Watching my daughter's "nervi-cited" (nervous+excited) school start mirrored my own parenting journey

Final Thoughts on Authentic Motherhood

Parenting is:

• A beautiful gift AND an exhausting challenge
• Filled with moments of warm light AND feelings of free-falling
• About embracing all emotions - the messy along with the magical

What helped me most was giving myself permission to:

• Not love every minute
• Voice hard truths
• Accept that struggle doesn't mean lack of love

To all moms in the trenches: Your complex feelings are valid, you're not alone, and this too shall pass.