American working mom asks heartbreaking question after revealing she gets to spend only 1.5 hours with her baby every day

Most parents know the tug-of-war that begins even before the sun rises, the feeling of being split between work and home. The clock seems to sprint, mornings dissolve into commutes, and by the time dinner is cleared, the day has already gone. For many working mothers, this isn’t a rare frustration but a daily ache. That’s the reality Ashleigh Hardaker has been struggling with. The 30-year-old HR adviser, who recently shared a short video on TikTok as @ashhh1501x on her daily struggle, has turned out to be relatable for many. In the clip, she revealed how her schedule leaves her with barely an hour and a half with her 1-year-old daughter, River. Across the screen, she wrote: “How are we meant to do this?!” In the caption, she added, “My heart breaks.”

Hardaker, who also has a 5-year-old son, Roman, told Newsweek that the guilt is constant. “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 said. “I feel, because I have to work, my evenings are so rushed doing the evening routine and getting them washed and put to bed.” Her workweek shifts between commuting days and remote days, but the sense of strain barely changes. The structure itself, she believes, is what leaves so many parents stretched. School hours, 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., don’t align with parents’ jobs. Then there are 86 days of school holidays and only 25 days of annual leave for most workers, making it impossible to fill the gap. 

Hardaker isn’t asking for sweeping reforms. She simply wants a system that acknowledges how families actually function. “In addition to that, the school plays, 'stay and plays', school trips that most parents aren’t allowed to get the time off to attend, just adds to the mom guilt,” she said. “I would love to see more roles, especially for working moms, where the hours accommodate school hours. These are so hard to find.” She mentioned that she had worked hard to build her career and really enjoys what she does. At the same time, she acknowledged that her paycheck is vital and admitted she sometimes thinks about how stay-at-home mothers make ends meet with expenses rising.

Hardaker’s experience reflects a larger reality. A scoping review published in PubMed Central, “The Impact of Motherhood on Women’s Career Progression,” outlines how working mothers face a well-documented motherhood penalty. The research notes that mothers are often viewed as less committed, less capable, and less suited for leadership roles. They earn lower salaries, encounter fewer opportunities for advancement, and juggle heightened expectations both at work and at home. 

Her video has now crossed 87,000 views, and the comment section reads like a chorus of exhausted parents who saw themselves in her day. “It’s the worst guilt,” @kcr897 wrote. Another, @TheLifeOfBeth_, offered comfort, “Oh girl, I'm so sorry. But just know that the hour and a half you do have her is her favorite.” @lizzyparr_ added, “Oh, babe, I feel this so much. I’m in the same boat; it’s so unfair.” For Hardaker, the plea wasn’t about resentment but about naming a truth many parents whisper to themselves. 

You can follow Ashleigh Hardaker (@ashhh1501x) on TikTok for more lifestyle content

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