Why do I feel guilty about wanting to work when I have young children at home?

That guilt isn't a sign you're doing something wrong. It's often a sign you've absorbed the message that your presence is what defines good mothering or parenting. Rabia loved with such purity precisely because she wasn't fragmented by competing loyalties—but she also lived in a different time and context. You're living now, in a world where your work is part of your identity, your survival, your contribution. Children need a parent who is present when present. Not a parent who is physically there but resentfully absent. Some of the most grounded, capable adults were raised by working parents who modeled engagement with the world beyond home. The guilt often comes from internalizing others' expectations rather than your own truth. Ask yourself: Am I working because I need to, or want to, or both? There's no wrong answer. But know it clearly. Then notice: When I'm at work, am I actually somewhere else in my mind? When I'm with my kids, am I fully there? Those questions matter more than the hours. Rabia's devotion was complete because it was honest. Be honest about what you need and who you are. Your children will feel that integrity.