A woman from Hyderabad has ignited a discussion about working motherhood after recounting an emotional moment with her young son, who once asked if he mattered more to her than her job. On Instagram, Lavanya Vaddanam posted a video where she described, in her native language, an incident involving her seven-year-old son, while on-screen text provided an English translation of her words.
A question that left her thinking
Lavanya recounted that one morning, before her son left for school, he asked if they could create a greeting card together when he came back in the evening. She assured him they would, but she was later held up at work.By the time she arrived at her parents’ home, collected him, and got back to her own place, it was already very late. She realized that her son seemed distressed.
“When I asked, ‘Why are you looking so dull?’ he said, ‘Mommy, what is more important to you, me or your office?’” she recalled.
Lavanya said the question caught her off guard. She promptly responded, “What kind of question is that? Naturally, you matter more. Don’t you realize that?”However, the moment stayed with her. She wondered why she had to explain something she believed he already knew.
Explaining work and emotions to children
Before going to sleep, Lavanya sat down with her son and clarified why her job occasionally kept her late. She said, “Sometimes my work causes me to be delayed. It’s a part of what I do. I need you to understand that. But this never means you are not important to me. You are the most important person in my life.”
She said that even if he understood only half of what she was saying, the conversation felt necessary.
“To my surprise, he actually did understand,” she said, adding that after the conversation, her son began asking her if she was tired or needed water whenever she came home late.
In the caption, Lavanya wrote, “At the end of the day, all they really need is our presence.”
Watch the clip here:
Internet reacts
The video prompted numerous responses from social media users, many of whom identified with the emotional challenge of juggling work and parenting.One person commented, “This is such a vital discussion that every working mother carries in her heart.” Another remarked, “Children grasp more than we realize, yet they still need reassurance.” A third added, “It’s so beautiful how he began taking care of you after that.” One person commented, “Mothers quietly bear a great deal of guilt.” Another added, “Talking to your children about your difficulties in a kind, gentle manner can help them become more empathetic.”