Managing a career while being a hands-on mother is challenging — and hybrid work, while often seen as a privilege, can sometimes be a necessity, not a choice.
My work location is 250 km away from my hometown. Due to personal reasons, relocating wasn’t an option. Initially, when I joined, I was pregnant, and I was given some flexibility. But once my maternity leave ended, I started traveling to the office 3-4 times a month — with my infant daughter and my family in tow.
During office hours, my husband and daughter would wait in the car parked nearby. Every time she needed to be breastfed, I would rush down from my desk, feed her, and return to work. My husband had to compromise on his own work, and my son — who’s in school — often had to miss classes because we had no one else to depend on.
Every trip required detailed planning: from booking service apartments to syncing with my son’s school activities, exams, and — most importantly — managing both kids’ health. We would start from home around 7 AM, which meant I had to wake up at 5 AM to prepare meals and get the kids ready. The journey took about 6 hours, during which I tried to work — but it was never easy with two kids.
Once I reached the office around 2 PM, I would finish my required hours, return to the apartment, and take over childcare duties as my husband handed them back to me, completely exhausted. I still had office work to finish and two children to take care of. On the day of return, I’d start early again — work a full day — and then travel back home, often continuing work on the move till my laptop battery ran out.
Some days, I was stretched so thin, I wondered how I even made it through. But like many working women, I kept going.
This isn’t a complaint — it’s a reality check. Working mothers juggle far more than what appears on the surface. Behind every “logged-in” status is a woman who’s multitasking between meetings and meals, deadlines and diapers.
Hybrid work isn’t always a perk. Sometimes, it’s the only way we can continue our careers without letting go of our families.
To all the working mothers out there who silently power through — I see you.
About the Author
Life style of mothers in these days has changed much compared to earlier times so is the nature of work. They are playing dual roles and giving their best in every field of life. Hats off to mothers in the 21st century!