For Colleen Joyce, the chief executive officer of Lawyer.com, one of the most difficult parts of leading a business wasn’t making a major corporate decision. It was standing in an airport wondering whether she would make it home in time to see her daughter before bedtime.
That experience ultimately became the inspiration for Mommy’s Love, Joyce’s upcoming children’s book, which explores the enduring connection between parents and children even when work, travel and other responsibilities keep families apart.
The book grew out of a familiar challenge for working parents: trying to balance professional responsibilities with the desire to be present for their children. Joyce’s experience as a CEO gave her a firsthand perspective on the pressure many parents face when demanding careers require travel, long hours and difficult choices.
But writing Mommy’s Love produced an unexpected benefit. The process itself helped Joyce and her daughter grow closer, transforming a personal struggle over balancing work and family into a creative project they could share.
The story arrives as families prepare for another school year, when schedules often become even more demanding. Between school drop-offs, homework, extracurricular activities and professional obligations, parents can easily feel as though they are constantly trying to catch up.
Joyce’s story offers another perspective on what it means to be present.
Physical presence isn’t always possible for working parents, but maintaining emotional connections can help children understand that they remain loved and supported even when a parent is away. For Joyce, the experience of writing the book prompted her to think about the moments children are most likely to remember—not necessarily whether a parent was available every minute, but how that parent made them feel.
That message could resonate with parents who experience guilt over missed school events, business trips, late nights or other unavoidable commitments.
Rather than presenting parenthood and professional success as an either-or proposition, Joyce’s story focuses on finding meaningful ways to maintain family connections while pursuing a career.
As CEO of Lawyer.com, Joyce has experience navigating the demands of leadership while raising a family. Her journey toward becoming a children’s author adds another dimension to her professional story, turning a moment of personal anxiety into an opportunity to connect with other families.
Mommy’s Love also demonstrates how children’s books can become more than stories read at bedtime. For Joyce and her daughter, the project became a shared experience that opened the door to conversations about love, work, distance and family.
With back-to-school season approaching, Joyce’s experience provides a timely reminder that busy parents don’t necessarily need to eliminate every conflict between work and family. Sometimes, the goal is finding meaningful ways to stay connected—even when they can’t physically be there for every moment.