"CARING FOR OTHERS, LEAVING MY OWN": THE EXPERIENCE OF MOTHER-WOMEN IN CHILDCARE PROFESSIONS

Childcare has historically been associated with the female gender, reflecting social constructions that assign women primary responsibility for children's well-being and development. This study investigates the experiences of women-mothers working professionally in childcare for children aged 0 to 5, seeking to understand their lived realities in this context. Data collection was carried out through Focus Groups conducted in March and April 2024, and analysis followed the Thematic Analysis method. The results were organized into four main categories: (1) Challenges of Single Motherhood; (2) Being a Mother: A Socially Constructed Role, with the subcategories The Myth of Motherhood and The Sacred Mother; (3) Balancing Motherhood and Profession: Challenges in Childcare; and (4) Motherhood Beyond Limits: Caregiving Mothers. The study reveals the complexity faced by these women-mothers in their professional journeys, highlighting everyday challenges and the strategies adopted to manage this reality. A combination of inadequate recognition and support, along with the pressure to meet the ideal of the "good mother," was identified, intensifying emotional and physical overload. Participants reported difficulties in balancing their careers with social expectations of ideal caregiving, configuring a triple burden involving professional work, domestic tasks, and childcare. The findings point to the need for research that values the perspectives of these women and emphasize the importance of providing psychological support, as well as recognizing their struggles and challenges.