As a working mom, some days, the guilt and mental load feel overwhelming. You wonder if you’re doing enough, if you’re present enough, or if you’re enough—period. But here’s a little reminder: Your kid isn’t keeping score. Instead, your child locks in on the moments that matter most, and those moments, Mama, are filled with you.
Your Mother’s Day might come with the classic gifts we love—flowers, cards, and breakfast in bed. But the gift your heart needs most—the tangible reminder of how deeply you’re loved and valued—is always looking right at you. So, on Mother’s Day (or on your hardest day as a working mom), take a step back and remind yourself of how your child sees you.
He sees you as home.
Work stays busy with deadlines, business trips, long hours, or weekend shifts. But, Mom, your child isn’t tracking your billable hours. Instead, he finds currency in the warmth of your hugs, the sound of your laughter, and the many other ways you make him feel safe and loved. These shape his sense of security and belonging. To him, you are home—no matter where you are.
She sees you as her safe space.
You know those after-school meltdowns or the way your child pushes against the rules? They don’t happen because you’re a working mom. They happen because she trusts you with her biggest emotions. She knows your love isn’t conditional. You are her steady shelter, the safe space where she can let it all out and still be completely loved and accepted.
He sees you adjust and adapt.
Your child watches you switch gears from work mode to mom mode and back again, sometimes within seconds of each other. When you’re called into work at the last minute, need to hop on a Zoom call at his practice, or leave work early because he got sick at school, he witnesses how you handle challenges with flexibility. He’s learning that unexpected pivots don’t need to derail the day. Instead, they can be met with resilience and creativity.
She sees you juggle it all (even when it gets messy).
A working mom knows perfect balance is a big fat impossible lie. Even the world’s greatest gymnast falls off the balance beam every once in a while! But by watching you power through the messy mishaps, your child is learning how to navigate a world that rarely offers (or promises!) equilibrium. She sees that some days, work takes the lead, and other days, family comes first. But what she sees most of all is that, no matter what, your love for her never wavers.
He sees you set healthy boundaries.
As a working mom, when you say “not now” or set other boundaries around your time at work, your child is learning valuable lessons about respecting others’ needs. As he grows, he’ll better understand that these boundaries help the family function and support everyone’s goals and aspirations.
She sees the heart behind your little traditions.
Maybe it’s weekend pancakes with chocolate chips, Saturday morning snuggles in your bed, or the matching hearts you draw on your hands at school drop-off. Or it could be the song you always sing out loud together in the car, the takeout pizza on Friday nights, or the “How was school today?” daily question. As a working mom, these might feel like tiny blips in a busy week. But to her, they’re everything. They’re the rituals that make her feel safe, loved, and connected to you—no matter how packed your schedule gets.
He sees your love in a million different ways.
Your child notices everything. The way you light up when he tells you about his day. The way you cheer for him at his game. The way you stay up late just to sneak in a goodnight hug, even when he’s a teen who acts like he doesn’t need it. (Psst. He does.) He sees the notes in his lunchbox, the texts that say “I’m proud of you,” and the way you call him “Bruh,” just to get him to smile after you both have had a long day. Mom, he knows your love isn’t measured in minutes spent but in the quality of your presence in his life.
She sees you as real and relatable.
Your child sees it all: the exhaustion from managing work and home, the occasional frustrations, and the times when you need a break. Instead of making you seem less in her eyes, they teach her about authenticity. When you apologize after losing your patience or admit when you’re struggling, you’re showing her that being a good human means embracing growth and honesty—especially when it’s hard. The most valuable gift you can give her is permission to embrace her own imperfections and show up authentically.
Your kids don’t see your schedule, to-do list, or the worries in your mind. They see you, and they love you. As a working mom, how does that change your perspective?
