By Charvi Agarwal 
My dear baby girl,
As I sit writing this at 11 p.m. on Thursday, you are fast asleep in your crib. It’s been a long day filled with attending meetings and working all day, looking at your pictures from daycare, and feeling that constant pain of missing you in my heart. But the evening was brightened by your kisses and hugs when I came home. Each moment with you is a treasure, even the challenging ones.
You see, my sweet child, I’m a working mom. That means I have to balance my time between my job and taking care of you. Some days, it feels like I’m stretched too thin, trying to be in two places at once. But I want you to know that no matter how busy I am, you are always my top priority.
Let me tell you a little about my day. This morning, I woke up early to get ready for work. You were still asleep, looking so peaceful that I couldn’t help but kiss your forehead before leaving. I prepared your three meals for daycare, got your bag ready, and your dad dropped you off at daycare. After that, I quickly left for work. At work, my mind often wanders back to you. I wonder what you’re doing, if you’re happy, if you’re missing me. But I know that you’re in good hands at daycare, and that gives me some comfort.
During my lunch break, I look through all your videos and past photos. Seeing your face light up when you see me on the screen makes my day. Your babbling and laughter are like music to my ears, even if I can’t be there in person. I miss you and sometimes question why I do what I do.
When I come home in the evening, I’m greeted by your enthusiastic hugs and kisses. You tell me about your day in your own little way, and I listen intently, trying to absorb every word and gesture. We play together, read books, and have dinner as a family. These moments are precious, and I make sure to be fully present during them.
But there are times I feel guilty. Like when I have to work late or when I’m too tired to play after a long day. I worry I’m not giving you enough of my time or attention. I fear you might grow up feeling neglected, or that my career is more important to me than you are. But I want you to know that nothing could be further from the truth.
My job is important to me, yes—but it’s not more important than you. I work because I love what I do, and I want to be an inspiration to you, just as your grandmother is to me, coming from a long line of working moms. I also believe that by seeing me work, you’ll learn the value of hard work, independence, and following your passions. These are lessons I hope will serve you well in life.
I remember one day when you were about 8 months old, you were laughing constantly, so proud of yourself. Your nanny was playing something with you, and you were laughing so loudly. I missed it because I was in the middle of a work call. But I came running to you as soon as I was done. I felt a pang of guilt and sadness when you were laughing and I wasn’t there.
But then I realized something—you were laughing because you were truly happy, and whether I was there or not, that moment was yours. There will be many more milestones, some I’ll be there for, and some I won’t. But what’s important is that I’m there for the big picture—loving you, supporting you, and being your mom.
I also make sure to involve you in my work life when possible. Sometimes, I bring you to my office for a visit, or tell you about what I do during the day. I want you to see that work is a part of who I am, just like being your mom is. You love coming to my office, sitting on my desk, and calling my laptop your “tap, tap.”
One day, you said you were going to daycare because Mumma needs to work. It broke my heart, but then we talked about why you go to daycare—to meet friends and have your own fun—and that Mumma is always thinking about you. You understood so beautifully. After that, every morning you say, ‘Mumma, you go to work, I go to school and have fun!’ And you know that weekends are my off days, and I don’t touch my phone or laptop. I love that about you—you’re such a sweet, independent, and understanding girl.
I promise to listen to you, to understand your perspective, and to explain why working is important to me. I also want to encourage you to pursue your own dreams and passions, just like I am pursuing mine.
My dear child, I love you more than words can express. You are the light of my life, and every day, I am grateful for the blessing of being your mom. Being a working mom isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it because of you.
So, as you sleep today, know that even when I’m at work, my thoughts are often with you, and my heart is always yours.
Love, Mumma
If you’re a working mom reading this, I want you to know: you are enough.
We may not always be there for every single giggle, every scraped knee, or every sleepy cuddle. But we are there for the big picture. Our love is woven into bedtime stories, weekend snuggles, and the lessons we teach them—about passion, resilience, and following their dreams.
