“Mommy, can you play with me now?”

I look at my calendar: Two networking meetings, a team check-in, and back to back management deadlines. “In a little bit, baby.” Those words catch in my throat.

I run a law firm with 12 attorneys and 30+ employees across 9 offices.
I teach twice a week at FIU’s Honors College.
And I have a 10-month-old and a 2-year-old at home with me.

Some days, I feel like I’m drowning.

I’ve built a successful firm, but there are moments when I wonder if I’m failing at motherhood.

The guilt is crushing when I’m physically present but mentally drafting a strategic marketing plan while my toddler tugs at my leg for attention.

The truth that nobody talks about:
When you work from home with young kids, you’re constantly torn between two worlds simultaneously.

I struggle with this reality daily.

Here’s what helps me navigate this impossible balance:

1. I’ve learned to step away
Every quarter, my husband and I attend business-focused retreats to reset our minds. In February, we joined one called “Iron Sharpens Iron” that helped us refocus for 2025.

Leaving my kids terrifies me. But returning as a more present, focused mom is worth it.

2. I’ve built a team I can trust
The attorneys and staff at our firm aren’t just employees – they’re extensions of my vision and values.

I can’t be fully present everywhere at once, but I can build systems where clients receive excellent care even when I’m playing with my children.

3. I’ve redefined success
Success isn’t just revenue milestones or case victories.

It’s creating a firm where team members feel valued and supported.
It’s building something that provides for my children’s future.
It’s showing my kids that women can lead with strength and vulnerability.

I don’t have perfect answers. Some days I nail it, and other days I feel like I’m failing at everything.

But I know this:
We working moms are doing the impossible every single day. The mental load we carry is immense, yet we keep moving forward.

So to the mom working with a toddler climbing on her during Zoom calls:
I see you.

To the mom answering emails during naptime:
I understand you.

To the mom who broke down after her child interrupted an important client call:
I’ve been you.

We’re not failing. We’re pioneering a new way of balancing ambition and motherhood – messy, imperfect, and incredibly brave.

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