‘How are we meant to do this?!’: Working mom breaks down her daily routine, and the amount of time she spends with her toddler is heartbreaking

A working mom’s emotional plea about balancing work and family life has gone viral, striking a chord with parents everywhere. Ashleigh Hardaker, a 30-year-old HR adviser, posted a TikTok video showing her daily schedule. She revealed that because of her work hours, she only spends about an hour and a half with her 1-year-old daughter, River, each day.

Hardaker, who also has a 5-year-old son named Roman, asked for more support for working mothers with young children. The video showed text asking, “How are we meant to do this?!” The clip has received over 87,000 views.

Hardaker told Newsweek that she deals with constant “mom guilt.” She said, “I obviously go to work for my kids, but I just wish I didn’t have to so I could spend more time with them and be more present.” She added that her evenings feel extremely rushed while trying to wash the kids and put them to bed.

The current work system doesn’t match family needs

Hardaker wants people to understand that modern work schedules don’t fit with raising children. In the UK, most schools run from 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM. Schools also have 86 days of holidays each year, but full-time workers only get about 25 days of leave. This creates a huge gap that parents struggle to fill.

School events make things harder. Hardaker pointed out that parents often can’t attend school plays, class activities, or field trips because they can’t get time off work. She would like to see more jobs with hours that match school schedules, but she said these jobs are very hard to find. Like many parents making tough choices, some people make shocking permanent decisions about their priorities.

Some people criticized her video, telling her to “get a job in a school then” or “don’t work.” Hardaker quickly responded to these comments. She explained, “I’ve worked hard to be where I am in my career, and I love my job.” She added that quitting isn’t possible because “I just couldn’t live without my salary. I often wonder how stay-at-home moms get by because life is just so expensive.”

Other parents shared similar struggles in the comments. One mom wrote: “Ahhh I used to be like this love when I had my eldest two. I’ve since changed career move and now everything I plan around my younger.

I can pick her up and drop her off at school every day and work from home. I help others do the same now. If you’re interested drop me a dm. Society teachers us that’s what we have to do. But there is a different way 💯”. Sometimes pursuing your dreams means facing harsh realities you didn’t expect.

Hardaker’s video shows a problem that many working parents face today. The current system makes it extremely difficult for parents to spend time with their children while also earning enough money to support their families.