My baby ruined my career — now I’m being accused of hating my son

Derricka Hill faced an unexpected pregnancy in October 2023, and though she had a jam-packed work life, she said she was eager to expand her family.

Her son, Derriawn David D’Angelo, was born June 28, 2024, after what Hill called an “emotionally intense” pregnancy. She took a paid three-month maternity leave right after her son was born, but was obliged to return to work in September of 2024.

“People online call me a ‘bad mother’ or say that I hate my son. I don’t, he is my whole world, but being a single mom working full time in corporate America is tough,” she revealed.

The 31-year-old, who lives in Seattle, Wash., works in marketing recruitment, and sometimes, she spends up to 50 hours a week at her job. Prior to her current position, she worked as a certified nursing assistant for seven years.

“I’d never be without him, but my career has suffered enormously. I don’t have the luxury of giving up work because it’s just me and Derriawn,” Hill explained.

Hill explained that even with the help of her mother and grandmother, she struggles with balancing the demands of her work and home life.

“My grandma wasn’t able to have Derriawn as he got too heavy for her to lift on her own, and my mum works full-time during the week,” the single mother said.

Prior to becoming a mother, Hill was incredibly devoted to her career.

“I lived for my job, I wanted to be successful in my career,” Hill said. “I worked hard but played harder.”

“I only had myself to take care of, and I could do whatever I wanted,” she added.

Many single parents struggle to balance their careers and their family lives, but Hill also revealed her situation is further complicated by the fact that since March 2025, her son has battled several health issues, including chronic ear infections and salmonella.

“He’d cry relentlessly throughout the night because he was in so much pain, which meant I got little to no sleep and struggled to function at work the next day.”

“It was heartbreaking to see as his mom,” she said, before adding that “he hasn’t gotten better, and doctors aren’t able to recommend further than the antibiotics that he’s taking.”

Caring for her son throughout the work week was already difficult, she said, but additional doctor’s appointments have resulted in extra unpaid time off.

Some weeks, she is only able to work around 25 hours — a vast difference from her typical 50 — and the reduced hours have “ruined” her career because the forced time off has made her a “less valuable employee.”

Hill posted her story on TikTok, and while some commenters slammed her for her outlook on the situation, others empathized with the struggles of single motherhood.

Now that she has Derriawn in her life, everything has changed — but it’s not all hardship.

“Corporate America is a beast, but I’m always going to put my son first.”

“Having him was my beautiful accident,” she said. “That’s why being a mum ruined my career, but I don’t regret it for a second.”