IAS Officer Divya Mittal Shares Her Struggles with Motherhood

New Delhi: IAS officer Divya Mittal, an IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore alumna, is known for her success in India’s civil services. However, on Women’s Day, she shared that her toughest role has been being a mother. In a heartfelt post on social media, she opened up about the challenges of raising her two daughters while managing her demanding job in Uttar Pradesh.

“Nothing Prepared Me for Motherhood”

“I am an IAS officer. I have studied at IIT and IIM. But nothing prepared me for raising my two little daughters,” she wrote, expressing how motherhood is far more challenging than she ever expected.

She shared that her 8-year-old daughter is already facing societal pressures that try to silence her. She stressed the importance of teaching young girls to speak up and stay confident, saying, “We can’t let them dim their light.”

The Emotional Side of Parenting

Mittal admitted to having moments of exhaustion and self-doubt. “Some nights I cry. But then my daughter hugs me and says, ‘You’re my hero.’ They watch us. They learn resilience from our struggles,” she wrote.

She emphasized that parents should support their children without controlling them, saying, “Be her rock, not her crutch.”

A Message to Mothers: “You Are Enough”

Mittal addressed the guilt many mothers feel, encouraging them to forgive themselves. “You are enough,” she reassured, advocating for a balanced and fair approach to parenting.

Raising Strong, Kind Daughters

She concluded with an inspiring message: “Daughters don’t need to become men to succeed. Teach them empathy, love, and kindness—these are their strengths.”

Her post reminds us that mothers are a child’s first role model, shaping their world through everyday actions and values.