---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came back to work when my children were…"
description: "\"I came back to work when my children were two months old. At that early age, they seem to have little awareness of anybody but their Raggedy Ann dolls,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/jane-pauley-10071_age_i-came-back-to-work-when-my-children-wer_1072263.jpg"
---

#  I came back to work when my children were two months old…

![“I came back to work when my children were two months old. At that early age, they seem to have little awareness of anybody but their Raggedy Ann dolls, so it wasn't a matter of them missing me. I was missing them.” quote by Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/jane-pauley-10071_age_i-came-back-to-work-when-my-children-wer_1072263.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/jane-pauley-10071_age_i-came-back-to-work-when-my-children-wer_1072263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/jane-pauley-10071_age_i-came-back-to-work-when-my-children-wer_1072263.jpg)

> “I came back to work when my children were two months old. At that early age, they seem to have little awareness of anybody but their Raggedy Ann dolls, so it wasn't a matter of them missing me. I was missing them.”

[Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A parent returning to work feels the loss of daily closeness with newborns, realizing the missing piece is their own presence.

**In simple terms:** Missing children is actually missing the parent’s own role.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and honor your own emotional needs.

Themes

parenting work‑life balance attachment identity

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

personal psychological

When to use this quote

- returning to work
- parent‑child bonding
- self‑care
- career planning

Key Concepts

attachment theory role identity emotional labor

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your presence shape a child’s sense of security?
- What strategies help maintain connection while working?

A Different Perspective

The quote assumes the children’s awareness is limited, which may not reflect all developmental perspectives.

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[Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Back to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-to-work/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dolls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dolls/)

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