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'How us working mums do it, I have no idea. But we get it done'

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We recently shared the story of mom Bridgette, who shared the harsh realities of being a stay at home mom (SAHM) in a powerful Facebook post. 

"You forget what it means or feels like to be an individual; because your entire existence now revolves around that child," she wrote. You can read the full story here: Mom says check on your SAHM friends, because they are not okay.

The truth hit a nerve, and hundreds of Parent24 readers wrote to us, via email, WhatsApp and social media, to share their experiences of staying home with the kids. 

But not all moms care for their kids full time, and many working moms shared their realities with us too.

This mom wrote to tell us about her experience as a working mom. 

"I am not a stay at home mum, but a working mum. It's so tough that you wonder how you manage or survive from day to day.
My day starts from 5.30am and ends when it ends.
I'm talking about non stop working from the time I wake up... making lunches, tidying up the house, making beds, packing my child's bag, all the while trying to get him up from bed in between, getting myself ready for work, getting him to the bathroom and finally rushing out off the house to miss traffic only to still get caught in.
Driving for an hour, sometimes an hour an half through traffic, get to work tired and then start another grueling day in the office. My job is so demanding that sometimes I don't even get a chance to eat or drink a cup of coffee.
At the end of the day, I'm so exhausted that just the thought of driving back home through traffic makes me want to cry. However, I do it and when I eventually get to my son's school, I paste a smile on my face and go fetch him.
Chat to him on the drive home about his day and then as soon as we get inside the house, my second job starts.
Cooking, cleaning, laundry, while seeing to a child that's always asking for things to eat or drink, or to help him look for a toy he lost, or answer for the 10th time on why supper is taking so long, also answer a barrage of questions about whatever strikes his inquiring mind and let's not forget the tantrums that often comes my way.
I've screamed , I've nagged and I've begged, and yes - also cried, but kids will be kids and nothing phases them.
By the time I get to bed, my brain feels fried and my body feels floaty. I pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow, and it always feels like I've only slept for an hour before the alarm goes off and I have to do it all over again.
How us working mums do it, I have no idea. But we get it done."

It's safe to say that being a mom is hard work, whether you manage a household or a business, and we all need support.

Chat back:

Share your parenting experience with us, and we could publish your thoughts. Anonymous contributions are welcome.

WhatsApp: Send messages and voicenotes to 066 010 0325

Email: Share your story with us via email at chatback @ parent24.com

Twitter: Twitter.com/Parent24

Facebook: Facebook.com/Parent24/

Instagram: Instagram.com/parent24

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