Am I giving up too much by being a working mum?

My little girl often asks: “Mummy, why can’t you take me to school? Why can’t we go to playgroup?” It’s hard trying to explain why to a 4-year-old but I try, I wipe away the tears before she can see them and say: “Baby girl, if mummy doesn’t work, we won’t be able to send you to your awesome school and we wouldn’t be able to send you to ballet and swimming classes. If I worked less, then daddy would have to work more.” She looks at me, smiles and says: “Yes, that won’t be fair to daddy.” It is amazing how a child’s mind works, she accepts the situation for what it is but maybe wishes it was different.

Every morning she has her breakfast, I do her hair, we laugh and chat about what our day will be like, and soon she’s off. She seems happy enough. I head to work, thinking about her, I wonder what she will be up to in class, about her having a secret joke with friends. And at lunch time I wonder if she’s eaten her snack or not? I wonder if she’s is happy to get home or would she rather stay at school? She has friends there, teachers, people who have the time to spend with her. I feel guilty, my heart aches, but what can I do? The phone rings and work beckons, again, I quickly compose myself and get back to it.

As I am done with work, I rush home and all the way I am thinking of her beautiful little face waiting for me. As I reach, she is clean, hair combed and in her pyjama and again, it hits me that I haven’t played any part in any of that. I sit with her as she eats and although I try to keep my mind on her, so much is going on in my head like bills, targets, school, snacks and before I know it, bedtime has crept up on us. It seems so unfair as I have barely had any time with her.

As I look at her, I realise that it’s all worth it, and I don’t have to beat myself up for being a working mother. I am doing my best to be the best I can for my daughter. I may not be there all day, but she knows my thoughts are always with her and I will always be there to give her that big hug. I may not be a stay-at-home mother but to her, I am a ‘Supermom’!

- The reader is an Australian recruitment consultant based in Dubai.