The Most Important Job No One Pays You For

There is no manual, no paycheck, and no formal recognition for being a mom—yet it is the most important role I have ever stepped into.

I’m a South African mom of two teenagers, living in Dubai, far away from the familiar smells of home, from my roots, and often, from the support of extended family. And like many moms I work with, I’ve felt the silent ache of invisibility—the feeling of being ‘just a mom’ while the world spins on.

But here’s what I’ve learned: motherhood is not the end of me, it’s the beginning of my evolution.

Being a mom challenged my identity. It stretched my patience, grew my compassion, and revealed the deepest truths about my fears and my strength. It made me question my worth—especially because I didn’t “bring in the money”—but it also made me rediscover that my worth was never tied to money to begin with.

This space is for moms like you—moms who love deeply, give constantly, and wonder quietly if they’re enough. You are. And together, we’re going to remember that.