50 Working Mom Guilt Quotes to Feel Empowered
This post may contain affiliate links that I may receive a commission from if you click & buy. In addition, the information on this site is NOT intended to be medical advice. See my full policy for more information.
If you’re a working mother, you’ve probably felt a bit burned out occasionally. Not only are you spending big chunks of time juggling a lot of tasks, but we all know that being a mom doesn’t stop just because you’re at work.
I never thought I’d return to life as a ‘working mom’ after leaving my career. Truthfully, I was more than happy being a stay-at-home mom, but sometimes that almost felt harder than a traditional job. You see, whether you’re working or fully at home, devoting every minute to your children, you’re taking on the multiple roles that come with mom life. You’re the chef, you’re the school bus, you’re the snack lady, you’re the maid, and you’re even the grocery shopper.
However, one thing we ALL seem to have in common is the little snippets of self-doubt. The one that leaves us with the nagging feeling that we aren’t good enough. It’s a constant struggle of literally giving it your all while feeling like it’s never enough. It’s the guilt of being a working mom.
That’s why I rounded up these beautiful, inspirational, and uplifting working mom guilt quotes — to remind you that you’re a good mother.
25 Working Mom Guilt Quotes for The Hard Days
“Guilt is a side effect of caring.”
– Danielle LaPorte
“Don’t confuse having a career with not taking care of your children. It’s not the same thing.”
– Cameron Diaz
“The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means that you already are one.”
– Jodi Picoult
“Every working mom is a superwoman in disguise.”
– Unknown
“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management.”
– Betsy Jacobson
“When you’re a working mom, you’re always going to feel like you’re failing somewhere.”
– Jennifer Garner
“Mom guilt is just the side effect of doing your best.”
– Brené Brown
“You are enough. Even on the days you don’t feel like it.”
– Unknown
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
– Maya Angelou
“Motherhood is hard. Working and balancing mom life is hard. And yet, here you are pushing through”.
— Karissa, Mom After Baby
“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress.”
– Sophia Bush
“No role in life is more essential than that of motherhood.”
– Elder M. Russell Ballard
“There’s no shame in being a woman who works and loves her family deeply.”
– Michelle Obama
“Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.”
– Barbara Kingsolver
“Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled. They are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles.”
– Sharon Jaynes
“Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy.”
– Tina Fey
“You are teaching your children strength, resilience, and dedication every day.”
– Unknown
“It’s not wrong to be passionate about your career. When you love what you do, you bring that stimulation back to your family.”
– Allison Pearson
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
— Lao Tzu
“Be a full person. Motherhood is a glorious gift, but do not define yourself solely by motherhood. Be a full person. Your child will benefit from that.”
— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“Every working mom makes a thousand micro-decisions every day. Each one rooted in love.”
– Unknown
“Work-life balance is not a destination. It’s a practice.”
– Unknown
“Becoming a mother has made me next-level confident. I’ve never felt more empowered.”
— Kelly Clarkson
“Whether you clock in at home or in an office, your work matters—and so does your presence. Both can thrive, one intentional moment at a time.”
– Karissa, Mom After Baby
If you’re feeling a lot of pressure balancing work and home life, try these tips:
1. Set Realistic (Not Perfect) Expectations
Your to-do list doesn’t have to get done in a day. Focus on what matters most—whether that’s finishing a project or sitting on the floor with your toddler for 10 minutes. Progress > perfection.
- Tip: Choose 1–3 priorities per day instead of trying to do everything.
2. Give Yourself the Same Grace You’d Give a Friend
If your best friend told you she felt like she was failing, what would you say? Say that to yourself. Kind self-talk is everything.
3. Define “Success” On Your Own Terms
Not what Instagram says. Not what your coworker is doing. Not what your mom did. Ask yourself: “What feels aligned for my family and my peace today?” Let that be your guide.
4. Block Off Guilt-Free “You Time”
Even 15 minutes can reset your energy. A quiet coffee, a walk without your phone, or journaling your thoughts—it’s not selfish, it’s refueling. A cared-for mom shows up with more joy.
5. Create a Simple, Flexible Routine
Kids thrive on rhythm—and so do we. Try to build gentle anchors into your day: morning snuggles, post-lunch walks, after-work playtime. Predictability lowers stress for everyone. You can even incorporate a kid-friendly calendar so they know when to expect your time — we’ve recently been using the Charmspring board and have loved the way it helps my kids stay ‘in the know‘ of our routine!
25 Working Mother Quotes to Remind You You’re a Fearless Mother
“You have suffered enough.’ That became my mantra for motherhood from there on out. You have suffered enough. If you can make it easier, make it easier, and don’t feel guilty about it.”
— Ali Wong
“My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis.”
— Drew Barrymore
“You’re not torn between two worlds—you’re building a life that holds both work and motherhood with grace.”
– Karissa, Mom After Baby
“Emotions are like passing storms, and you have to remind yourself that it won’t rain forever. You just have to sit down and watch it pour outside and then peek your head out when it looks dry.”
– Amy Poehler
“Embrace not knowing everything; it can lead to unique solutions.”
— Sara Blakely
“When you love what you do and who you’re doing it for, the guilt has no room to grow.”
– Unknown
“Motherhood is not a job—it’s a calling. And it doesn’t get canceled when you clock in.”
– Unknown
“Being a working mother doesn’t diminish your role as ‘mom’. You are still just as important and needed. Don’t ever forget that.”
– Karissa, Mom After Baby
“I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is.”
— Oprah Winfrey
“You’re raising them to know they can dream big and follow through—just like you.”
– Unknown
“Motherhood is the greatest thing and the hardest thing.”
– Ricki Lake
“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”
– Cardinal Mermillod
“The best way to master the balancing act of motherhood is to just do it, and learn one day at a time.”
– Karissa, Mom After Baby
“Get rid of the guilt. When you’re at one place, don’t feel bad that you’re not at work. When you’re at work, don’t feel bad that you’re not at home.”
— Katie Couric
“Guilt management can be just important as time management for mothers.”
— Sheryl Sandberg
“The gift of motherhood is the selflessness that it introduces you to, and I think that’s really freeing.”
— Olivia Wilde
“You’re not half-working and half-parenting—you’re fully showing up in both roles, even when the lines blur.”
– Karissa, Mom After Baby
“Grace over guilt. Always.”
– Unknown
“If you’re a mom, you’re a superhero. Period.”
— Rosie Pope
“The more we refuse to buy into our inner critics—and our external ones too—the easier it will get to have confidence in our choices, and to feel comfortable with who we are—as women and as mothers.”
– Arianna Huffington
“The thing about being a mother is that your responsibility and your love for your children is so enormous that it kind of overcomes everything.”
— Julianne Moore
“Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for working hard to provide a better life for your kids.”
– Unknown
“You’re proof that ambition and nurturing can live in the same heart—and that both deserve to be celebrated.”
– Karissa, Mom After Baby
“I still have to learn a balance of being there for her, and being there for me. I’m working on it. I never understood women before, when they put themselves in second or third place. And it’s so easy to do. It’s so easy to do.”
— Serena Williams
The role of a ‘mother’ will likely be the hardest and yet most rewarding one you’ll ever hold. Whether you’re a working mom or stay at home mom — they all have challenges.
So keep your head high, and try to remember what an amazing job you’re doing. And if you need a reminder, keep a few of these quotes pinned up in your favorite areas around your office or home.
More articles you’ll enjoy reading:
