An Open Letter To All The Working Mums

I am mother of 2 kids and an almost single parent  to them in most areas. I work as a manager in a BPO company. Always looking out for challenges, changes and am passionate about empowerment of women at work and home.

By nature a women is a giver, beginning from the conception of life within her; giving flesh and blood to her womb, the child within. She nurtures them with  love, affection, compassion. My life as I see has been transformed from what I was before my kids were born (My son 6 years and daughter 4 years). Perhaps there are lot of things I sidelined, restarted, stalled, stopped, paused, like my preferences, career, "me-time", normal routines, vacations to list a few. But on the flip side, the growing years of a child, their babbles, the mild snore, the tight hugs, the soft delicate skin, their touch, the innocent looks, their fears, laughs, cries,  melts your heart and pumps you with renewed energy to keep marching ahead.


There are innumerable worries, problems after problems but there are also cures, solutions, accomplishments as we see them grow. This takes deep commitment emotionally, physically, financially for every parent. Especially  being a working parent, I haven’t got the luxury to take care of them all the time, feed them all the meals, and be available all the time for them as my mother did for me.
 

My heart aches when I leave  behind my daughter at my parents’ place. It rips me apart to hear those cries and makes me wonder if this is all worth it! So I found ways to have my father pick her up so she feels nice to be called/invited to a place, than be left there :)

As a working mother, I personally feel all can be accomplished if we have a activity based chart per day and apply common sense to many solvable problems we have, reducing our egos to size zeros.
 

My days roll out with breakfast, packing my son and daughter to school, preparing lunch,  sending my husband to office, logging in on my computer, as I get the washing machine roaring by the side. Helpers, maids, vendors at door steps are the biggest boons of being in India and I worship them!
 

I ensure I get the best possible food as much as my kids, husbands have and do not compromise on my lunch time at all. I must stay strong for my life machine to roll!

But each new work I undertake, I take a lot of time to think, as every step taken means a lot many changes to many people's schedules and lives. Sometimes I take the risk and believe firmly things will readjust to make it work and it does...The gut feeling helps a lot of times too!
 

I  was lucky to get a work from home option that I avail to the max and make sure every time I don't have much work, I make worksheets for my kids. buy groceries, clean up the kitchen, read a book, take an afternoon nap (that relaxes me the most!). I even think how my kids would consider if I didn't see them once they are back from school. I ensure I am there during that time so they can talk about their day to me. That is a blessing with WFH truly!

I follow schedules that helps me a lot when it comes to eating, playing , studying time for / with my kids. This sets a time frame in their mind and generally helps follow an active, healthy life.

Yes we do have the sick time, when we avoid doctors to prevent the chemical bombardments to our bodies. The bodies surprisingly recuperates if we listen to it intently and give it the rest that it deserves!

When people look at me they are awed how I manage so many things, but I wish I didn't have to do so many things. And, just bask in the love of my kids all the time and have a much slower life.

Work becomes integral for some women as they either get wedded to families that are extremely frugal wanting you to adjust with paltry ways or who have enormous outstanding EMIs that hangs like knives that you keep battling with or may be  a passion to do more than just the household chores.

This is a very critical decision to make because it involves lot of commitment against all odds at work, home, children, teachers etc. But whenever I want to say quits, I pause! I reflect why I am here, my purpose, I do my scorecards, and re-steer, accelerate, brake my life engine as and when it is necessary!

Spirituality oils the machine to go faster and smoother and I ensure I keep that up along with my kids.
 

Regards,

Padma