It’s my first day back to work after 12 weeks off with my newborn.

It's incredibly bittersweet. As a working mom, I know that those three months are the longest uninterrupted time I'll have with my baby… who will grow into a toddler in the care of others 40 hours per week; only to then turn into a kid followed by a teenager who can't wait to be an adult.

It goes fast.

This is my second child, and just like with my first, these past several weeks were harder than any job I've ever had. More demanding, more time consuming, more exhausting.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I'm grateful for those who took on longer hours in my absence, shifted projects and told the higher ups, "that can wait."

I'm grateful to work for a boss who values family.

I'm grateful to have a job I like. One that's easy to go back to.

I'm grateful my husband didn't think twice about losing 1/8 of our income for me to take this time off.

You see, paid parental leave is still the exception in the United States.

It shouldn't be.

I have two daughters now. This will change before they decide to have kids (if they decide). I'll do what I can to make sure it does.

And when I'm not going to HR to offer a perspective they've clearly not heard enough — I'll be writing ads.

Working moms really can do it all.