The Truth About Working From Home (No One Talks About)
I read an article about Emma Grede from Skims saying working from home is basically “career suicide.”
And I get what she’s saying.
But also… I don’t.
Because here’s the part no one puts in the headline:
Working from home can be a little lonely.
Yes, I have client meetings. Zoom calls. A few in-persons sprinkled throughout the week.
But there are days I realize I haven’t really interacted with another human in hours.
I find myself living for the gym—just to be around people.
Craving the end of the day when my girls walks through the door.
Missing the easy camaraderie of workplace friendships… the “grab a coffee and vent for five minutes” kind of connection.
That part? It’s real.
But here’s the other truth…
I only have two more years with my youngest at home.
And for the past two years, I’ve spent about three hours a day driving her around.
Yes. Three hours.
Was it inconvenient? Absolutely.
Did it interfere with work? Definitely.
Would I have been able to do that from an office?
Not even close.
And would I trade it?
Not for one second.
Because those car rides?
They weren’t just car rides.
They were conversations.
They were laughter.
They were the quiet, unplanned moments where your child opens up about things they wouldn’t say across a dinner table.
Moments I would have missed.
The Part We Don’t Say Out Loud
Emma Grede talks about being a “three-hour mom” on the weekends to her four kids.
And I thought—that’s interesting.
Because I’m a three-hour mom too.
Just… every day.
In the car.
In the kitchen.
In the in-between moments where she wanders into my “office” (which is really just my bedroom) and flops on the bed to decompress and tell me about her day.
Those moments aren’t scheduled.
They’re not efficient.
They don’t show up on a productivity tracker.
But they are everything.
The Trade-Off No One Wants to Admit
Being a deeply engaged mom—really present—comes with sacrifice.
And if we’re being honest?
It’s usually women making it.
Do men have to make that same trade-off? Not often.
Do their careers take a hit? Rarely.
Has mine?
Probably.
But here’s the thing…
The value of what I’ve gained isn’t measurable in promotions or paychecks.
It’s intrinsic.
It’s eternal.
It’s priceless.
So… Is Working From Home “Career Suicide”?
Maybe.
Or maybe it depends on what you think your life is for.
Do I miss the office sometimes?
Yes.
Do I miss the energy, the people, the structure?
Also yes.
Will I go back one day?
Maybe I’ll open an office again when she graduates.
But right now?
I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Soaking up the last of these years.
Being available.
Being present.
Being her mom—not just in title, but in real, everyday life.
And I can say this with absolute certainty:
These years of mothering my three kids…
have been the most precious gift God has ever given me.
-Samantha
