When one of my twins finally stops crying, the other begins. The moment he settles, the first one starts again. I spend a long time trying to make them both happy and smiling. Then, right at that moment, my Slack notification rings. Urgent meeting. Everyone is waiting.
The second I join the call, one of my boys decides it’s the perfect time to contribute his own "lovely noise" for everyone to hear. I hear the silent chuckles from my colleagues through my headset. To an outsider, it might look like a difficult, exhausting life. But to me? It is deeply fulfilling. Who else in the world gets to raise two newborn boys and help a company grow at the same time!
The pampered girl :-
I grew up as a pampered girl in Jeddah. Being the youngest in my family with two older brothers meant I was always the most protected and cared for. I loved growing up in Jeddah—it is a city everyone loves for its calm streets, soft breeze, and kind people who look out for one another. Our home was full of laughter and a lot of talking. There was always a story being told or a joke being shared. Everything stayed that way until I moved away to a residential school for my 11th and 12th grades. That was the first time I started doing things on my own and became independent.
The coding life :-
It was during this time that I got curious about technology. I realized I didn't just want to use websites; I wanted to learn how to build them. After finishing my studies, I started hunting for a job. Like many new developers, I had my eyes on the big, famous companies. I pictured myself in one of those tall glass buildings, wearing flashy clothes and earning a high salary.
But life had a different plan. I ended up joining a company that wasn’t "famous" or "big"—a place called ERPGulf that allowed me to work from home. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if it was the right choice at first. For a long time, I still missed the idea of those fancy towers and the office life. I didn't see working from home as a blessing until I received the biggest blessings of my life: my twin boys.
Even without the fancy office, the work was exciting. Our small team was building a cloud service, Claudion.com, that would later compete with the big players in the industry. At the time, I was just focused on the code, but later I realized that the project I contributed to was bearing fruit for the company and earning a significant part of the revenue. It gave me a huge sense of pride. I realized then that without tall buildings, without clean and crystal glass cubicles, and without suit-wearing managers, we could build products that actually mattered.
The testing time :-
As I grew more confident, I moved into building financial and inventory apps and online stores. But then came the real test: a high-risk twin pregnancy. It was a scary and tiring time. I never wanted to stop working, and that is when I truly understood the value of where I was.
Often, I wonder if this company was made for women, and if the men around me know women better than women themselves. There were no rigid hours demanding I perform through pain, no manager counting my absences, and no unspoken rule that pregnancy means stepping back. Instead, there was trust—the kind that says your work speaks for itself, regardless of what is happening in your life. I was a mother first. I just happened to also be a developer building products at the same time—or the other way around—the sorting order didn't matter; my life is not an algorithm where sorting order matters anyway. The trust I was given meant I never had to choose which part of me showed up to work.
The cuddling life :-
Many people around me—relatives, friends, and well-wishers—often wonder how I manage everything professionally while raising twin babies. The truth is, it doesn’t happen alone. It is possible because of the strong support system around me. My husband and family share responsibilities and constantly encourage me to continue pursuing my career.
Balancing work and motherhood requires planning, prioritization, and flexibility. I structure my work around my babies’ routines, make the most of my focused hours, and communicate clearly with my team. Some days start very early, some continue during nap times, and others require quick adjustments when motherhood calls.
This journey has taught me the true value of time. Every minute matters—whether it’s meeting a deadline or spending a quiet moment with my children. I’ve become more intentional about how I spend my time and more present in both my professional and personal life. Time is no longer something I assume I have; it’s something I consciously use. This has made me more efficient at work and more grateful at home.
Listen, girls.
Today, my life is a mix of code and cuddles, meetings and midnight wake-ups. It’s busy, sometimes exhausting, occasionally overwhelming—but deeply fulfilling. When I hold my twin boys, I think about my own childhood — about growing up with siblings, about laughter and bonding. It reminds me how important emotional support and presence are while growing up.
I meet many girls - friends and family - who just came out of college or recently joined a job. They always worry about getting married and having babies. They all worry how it will be for them, which side they will fall on—or if they will fail at both sides and collapse. I wrote this blog to tell them all, in my humble way: you won’t. You can do both. You don’t have to choose between your career and your family.
I continue to grow as a developer while raising my twin boys, learning resilience, patience, and adaptability every single day. I’m moving forward step by step—as a professional, as a mother, and as a stronger version of myself.
Often, I say to myself: Keep walking, Hiba. You are stronger than you think.
And I smile — because I know it’s true. 💛