Why Going to Work Feels Like a Break — And That’s Okay

For working moms balancing careers, kids, and guilt

The Monday Morning Confession

Every Monday morning, I walk into the office and… exhale.

It’s not because I don’t love my kids — I do, fiercely. But after a weekend of nonstop mom-ing, work doesn’t feel like a punishment. It feels like a reset. A return to me.

If you’re a working mom, you might understand this strange paradox. The workweek, which is supposed to be the hard part, can actually feel like a break.

The Invisible Load of Motherhood

Weekends are rarely restful. They’re marathons of caregiving:

• Swimming lessons
• Meltdowns in the car
• Feeding, entertaining, cleaning
• Interpreting toddler language
• Rebuilding connection to make up for weekday absence

The mental load of motherhood is real — planning meals while breaking up arguments and soothing tantrums with one hand. There’s a constant pressure to be present, nurturing, and emotionally available.

What Work Gives Me That Motherhood Doesn’t

At work, I get to just… be me.

• I can think clearly. Strategically.
• I can finish a cup of coffee while it’s still hot.
• I can have adult conversations that don’t involve toys.
• I’m seen for my skills — not just for knowing where the missing shoes are.

Work isn’t “easy,” but it’s focused. Linear. Predictable. And no one wipes their nose on my pants.

The Guilt That Sneaks In

Still, I feel guilty.

Why do I feel more at ease at the office than at home?

Does that make me a bad mom?

Am I allowed to enjoy leaving the house on Monday mornings?

It’s the classic working mom guilt — feeling like you’re failing at home just because you’re thriving at work.

Rethinking Work-Life Balance

But maybe we need a mindset shift.

What if work and motherhood aren’t in competition?

What if they’re both part of our wholeness — and we don’t have to choose?

Being a mom and being a professional aren’t opposites. They’re complements.

• Caregiver and decision-maker
• Exhausted and empowered
• Loving mom and ambitious woman

The key isn’t perfection. It’s permission — to enjoy both roles and honor what each gives us.

Final Thought

I love my children deeply. But on Mondays?

I also remember how much I love me.

Your Turn

Have you ever felt like work is your sanity break?

Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear your Monday confession.