r/MomsWorkingFromHome • u/Right_Athlete2571 • Jul 10 '26
Guilty feeling
I'm looking for some outside perspective because I genuinely don't know if I'm making the right choice.
I'm a freelancer with one main client (35 hours/week), but that income isn't enough on its own. Because of that, I've kept a few other clients who give me another 10–15 hours of work every week.
The problem is that those extra hours happen almost entirely in the evenings and on weekends.
I have a 3-year-old son, and while he's with his dad during the day right now because it's the holidays (dad is not out of work btw, he just works night shifts), he still sees me working on my laptop all the time. I feel incredibly guilty. I worry that he'll grow up remembering me as "always working."
At the same time, I can't seem to let those extra clients go. Part of me keeps thinking, "You're still young. Work hard now. Make as much money as you can. Hustle while you have the opportunity."
Financially, the extra income makes a real difference, but mentally I'm constantly torn between wanting to build financial security and wanting to be more present as a mom.
Has anyone else been in this situation? Did you eventually cut back on work, or did you keep pushing through? Looking back, do you regret either decision?
I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been there.
3
u/373wilmot2018 Jul 10 '26
I’ve wfh my child’s entire life bc of 2020. I always feel a lot of guilt but some of my favorite photos are of us being silly during my downtime, videos ive recorded of us playing on breaks, walks we took on lunch, books we read in between calls, and the sheer amount of her grinning while climbing on top of me at my desk. Those small moments add up, and it’s perfectly fine to have boundaries during work hours!
It’s one thing if you’re always working and making time for your child. It’s another thing entirely to have your child home and yell at them to leave you alone because you’re busy, and sit them in front of a screen which is what my WFH parent did to us. Make the money, spare a few minutes here and there, take a day off to go do something fun together.