I love my job, but my family is even more important

Mornings at the nursery school begin with the sleepy 'good mornings' of the children.
The teachers greet each child individually, check the contents of their bags together, and share a laugh saying, 'Your shoes are on the wrong feet.'
Such small interactions are filled with the warmth of daily life.

However, working mothers who are nursery teachers on the front lines often feel,
'I truly love my job. But my family is, after all, the most important thing.'
They hold that feeling quietly deep within their hearts.

Even while working reduced hours, they know the nursery is running on a tight schedule, so there are days when they end up pushing themselves too hard.
When they quietly pack their bags in their lockers in the evening, saying,
'I have to leave early today for pickup,'
a small sense of guilt or conflict often crosses their minds,
thinking, 'I really wish I could stay longer to help everyone.'

Worries shared in confidence

In the midst of such days,
'I really want to cherish my home life more. But I feel like I'm causing trouble for everyone at work.'
'Do I have to prioritize the workplace during events or busy seasons?'
Many people share these worries with me in a modest voice.

They might think that relying on others or voicing their weaknesses is 'being soft.'
But in the way they quietly tell me, 'I've been trying to find ways to manage on my own,' while struggling, there is a clear sense of how much they care for the children in front of them and their workplace.

Sotosapo as a 'place to talk outside'

For those who have kept trying so hard,
when they feel, 'If I carry this alone any longer, I might break,'
they sometimes reach out to Sotosapo for support.

'This is a safe place where you can talk about anything.'
When I say that,
there are moments when they hesitantly ask, 'Is it okay if I can't explain it well?'
and their true feelings begin to spill out, bit by bit.

As I listen carefully to every single word,
I gently add words of appreciation,
'You have really done your best until now.'
Even if there isn't an immediate answer,
they sometimes show a small smile, saying,
'Hearing you say that makes me feel a little lighter.'

When two feelings become visible

As we continue to consult with each other,
the thoughts behind how the nursery manages its operations,
and how the person seeking advice wants to cherish their family,
begin to take shape, and the "world each other sees" gradually comes into focus.

"What could we do to make the days ahead go a little better?"
Triggered by such a question,
"It's hard to change things significantly right away, but maybe I'll talk to the nursery director about next month's shift."
"I'd like to talk about sharing the morning tasks with someone."
The moment words that look toward the future are born,
it makes me, watching from the side, feel a warm sense of hope.

Cherishing small steps

First, try making a quiet promise to do what you can.
Big changes might not come immediately, but
on the way home after a day when you felt "there is something I can do too,"
your expression seems to have softened somehow.

Daily life might change more slowly than you think.
But by stacking up small steps,
they can sometimes grow into great peace of mind or confidence.

Relying on someone or seeking advice is never a sign of weakness.
It is, I believe,
a strength unique to that person, born from the desire to "protect what is important."

A place where you can start walking again

Everyone has different feelings and circumstances.
Even so, every small step surely leads to tomorrow.

When you get lost or stop in your tracks again,
perhaps just having a place nearby where you can think "it's okay to come back here"
is enough to make a person a little kinder.

The worries of a working mom will surely never disappear, and
I think there are times when you blame yourself every time you worry.

But why not tell yourself, "I did my best today too," and
take a slow, deep breath tonight?

A warmth that gently stays by your side

Until the day we encounter new scenery,
I want to cherish a warmth that gently stays by your side.

I want this to be a place where we can find small steps together—

With that feeling, I will continue to walk forward.

Thank you for reading until the end.