Between dreams and duty: A working mom’s journey to balance

By Nada Yasser
Exclusive to The Times Kuwait

The alarm buzzes. Another day begins. Before I even open my eyes, my mind is already running—work deadlines, kids’ needs, and the never-ending push to keep going. I lie there for a moment, listening to the quiet of the house, feeling the weight of another day pressing down on me. A deep breath. A whispered prayer. And then, I get up.

Being a working mom is not just about balancing schedules—it is about balancing emotions, battling the guilt that never really goes away. Every morning, I kiss my children goodbye, forcing a smile as they cling to me, their small hands pulling at my heart. “Mama, don’t go.”

And yet, I go. I walk out that door, carrying their voices with me, feeling the ache of absence settle deep in my chest. I tell myself I am doing this for them, for us. But some days, I wonder: Am I really?

There are moments when I feel unstoppable, when I step into my office with confidence, knowing I am carving a future for myself and my family. I work hard, I push forward, I build something meaningful. But there are also moments when I sit in my car, gripping the steering wheel, my vision blurred with unshed tears, questioning if I am making the right choices. The guilt is relentless. The self-doubt is suffocating.

I started from nothing. No shortcuts. No easy roads. Just a heart full of dreams and hands that never stopped working. Every single day, I push myself forward, reminding myself that growth is painful, but so is staying in one place. I have learned that guilt is the price we sometimes pay for ambition, but I refuse to let it define me. Instead, I let it remind me how much I love, how deeply I care.

My career has given me purpose. Today, I stand as a Learning & Development Officer in a multinational company—a role I once only dreamed of. I help others grow, introduce mindfulness and self-compassion, and work to make workplaces more human-centered. But my journey does not stop here. My love for human connection drives me forward. I am studying relationship coaching, and one day, I will be a corporate wellness consultant. Because I know what it is like to feel unseen, unheard, exhausted. And I want to change that.

This journey has not been easy. I have been in places that drained me, jobs that tested my patience and self-worth. I have come home feeling empty, defeated, questioning if this is all life has to offer. But through every struggle, every sleepless night, every tear I wiped away in secret—I have become stronger. Every challenge has shaped me into a woman who is still searching for balance, for fulfillment, for something greater than just existing.

I believe in purpose. I believe that I was put on this earth for a reason. And while I do not have all the answers yet, I am slowly starting to understand the ‘why’.

To every working mom out there who carries the weight of a hundred roles, I see you. I know your exhaustion, your longing, your love that stretches itself thin just to make everything work. I know how it feels to stand in a crowded room and still feel alone, to succeed yet wonder what you are missing.

You are not alone. You are strong. You are enough.

So I wake up every day, wipe away the doubt, and keep going. Not just for my children, not just for my dreams, but for the hope that one day, another mother will read this and realize—she is not alone.

Nada Yasser
Nada Yasser works as a Learning & Development Officer at Acico Group