Be a working mom sucks. I don’t hate my job; I just love being a mom. Don’t get me wrong. I like my job too… most days. And I’m actually really grateful to have the job I do. It’s just the time away from my baby that absolutely sucks.

It’s letting someone else get all of her love, giggles, jabbers, and kisses of the day. Letting someone else be her main provider, what I am supposed to be. Someone else gets to tickle her tickle spots and watch her dance and sing and grow. She gets to share her new words and make someone else laugh all day, someone who isn’t me. And I hate having to miss this. Having to miss out on her comical and sweet personality. Missing out on teaching her new things and seeing the new things she is learning on her own and the new things she is becoming interested in.

Leaving her every morning is hard on this mama’s heart. I know she is well taken care of, but no one does it as good as I do. No one knows what she needs like I do. No one plays pretend with her like I do. No one gives her naps like I do. No one make sure she drinks enough milk like I do. No one loves her like I do.

So each morning, I pray that she has a good day. I pray that she gets to run and play and dance and learn. I pray she eats well. I pray she naps well. And I pray she doesn’t miss me as bad as I miss her.

And the sweetest part of my day? Picking her up after work. The moment I see her face and she throws her arms up in cheers and her mouth drops in excitement and she starts chanting, “Mama! Mama! Mama!” It’s like a scene from a sports movie or something. Where the underdog team wins the championship with a last-minute shot and the whole crowd goes wild. Yeah, it’s kind of like that.

So you see, this part of my day makes the rest of my day so worth it. It makes a horrible day better. It makes going to work not as bad, because I know when I get off I have the peppiest, silliest, most excited, and most adorable, little cheerleader waiting for me to walk through that door.

For all of you other working mommas out there. Just know when the days are long, you are providing a better life for your own cheerleaders. You are making a difference, whether you realize it or not. And you are still the one they cannot wait to see. Still the one they love with all that they are.

So let me step in and be your cheerleader for a minute: Go, Mama! You are a rockstar, Mama! You can do it, Mama! Keep up the great work, Mama!