'Am I a bad mother?': Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh cries after not accompanying her son to school

"Am I a bad mother?" This question weighed on Ghazal Alagh as she opened up on LinkedIn about the daily struggles faced by working mothers. The co-founder of Mamaearth revealed her emotional struggle when she couldn't accompany her son on his first day of school.

"I cried, felt guilty and put up a brave face to see him off with his Dadi to school. That’s what you have to do as a working mother who can’t take days off sometimes, no matter how much you want," she wrote.

It’s a familiar scene for many working moms: balancing career duties with the desire to be there for every important moment.

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In her post, Ghazal reflected on the "precious moments" she missed—her son's excitement, his smiles mixed with tears, his amazement when he walked into school, and his nervousness at meeting new teachers and classmates.

These moments highlight the small yet significant sacrifices that working parents often face. She expressed deep appreciation for her family's support system, particularly the role of her son's grandmother, Dadi, who stepped in when she couldn't.

"Thank God, I had his Dadi, as a support system I created for myself. 5 years ago, Varun Alagh and I (with Agastya) decided to move into the family home together. And now 4 generations are living together in the same house!" she said.

Five years ago, Ghazal and her husband, Varun Alagh, made a significant decision along with their son, Agastya, to move into the family home. Now, four generations live together—a setup that Ghazal acknowledges isn't possible for every working parent in India.

However, she emphasizes the importance of having a strong support network, whether it's other relatives or understanding friends.

"While every approach has its own pros and cons, I think joint families create a wonderful environment for children. In a world where working women don’t get the support they deserve, I hope people will normalize seeing joint families as teamwork. One where kids get love and protection without their mothers having to stifle their career and personal goals," she added.