As Mother’s Day beckons us from around the corner, I took some time to sit by my window and pen down a few of my thoughts. Being a mother to two boys, this day is special for me in many ways. If I could rewind the clock on motherhood and do it all over again, there is absolutely nothing that I would do differently. It has been, and continues to be the most fulfilling and rewarding role of my life.
Juggling many hats (and loving it)
As a child, I was an introvert who mostly kept to myself and spent hours with my nose buried in a book or observing nature. But my first year of motherhood turned out to be a bag full of surprises! Every working mother will agree to the fact that we basically have two full-time jobs. Working mothers often have a hard time striking a balance between work and their kids, and unless they have access to a solid support system, they find themselves juggling priorities and often end up burning out in the process. And frankly speaking, which one of us hasn’t experienced the guilt that comes with spending time away from our children?
Which is exactly why, from one working mom to another, I believe that you need to know that you are enough. You are doing enough. You are giving your best every day.
Mother’s Day this year is slightly different from the previous ones simply because for over a year now, our homes have become our new workspaces. The lines between the two work and home have blurred and sometimes completely disappear. The ground reality of so many ‘work at home’ moms’ is challenging, but let me tell you, that you’re far from alone. Like me If you too are one of the millions of mothers that traded in your office desk for a home office, is parenting in between conference calls or simply just trying to keep your head above water, please know that today is about you. Please don’t look for the perfect work life balance because it simply does not exist.
Today is about celebrating your fierce spirit and your unwavering strength to do everything you can for those around you.
And so, for when working mothers do eventually return to offices or for those who are on a career break, I would like share my personal learnings from this experience in the hope that it will help a mom someday. I have been in your shoes and the one thing I did was to prioritize what was non-negotiable for me when it came to child-care. For instance, waking my sons up for school, getting them ready and dropping them off was not just part of my routine, but something that I cherished dearly and did without fail. I also swallowed the reality pill and knew that I couldn’t be around all day for them however the morning start gave us good quality time. What are the non – negotiables for you and what will you rely on support for.
I grew up in many ways with my kids
It’s these tiny moments that remind me that motherhood is a gift, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The bond between a mother and her child transcends time, distance and circumstances. As many of you know, I am ‘pawrent’ too and raising my boys along with our pets has been a truly fantastic experience. Both human and furry kids need nurturing, and I think it’s important for kids to grow up around pets because it makes them responsible, caring and compassionate. Over the years, I have reflected on my relationship with my sons and have come to understand that unconditional love is what makes them feel secure and pushes them to follow their dreams. If you ask me, this is what nurturing is all about. Each child is different, with a unique identity and deserves their own environment to bloom. I am proud and gratified from watching my boys grow into the individuals they have become today and I am pleased that both of them have followed their own passion and what I believe they should be pursuing.
And in many ways, I know that while they grew up, I did too. Motherhood made me more patient, empathetic and caring.
I see you. I hear you. I honour you. And I am proud to be one of you.
Every year as Mother’s Day inches closer, I get nostalgic about my boys and never fail to reminisce about the years gone by and to remind them that I was always stand by them for the years ahead.
Last but not the least, I hope you feel loved and proud this Mother’s Day. Take a moment to acknowledge everything you have done and everything you will continue to do, because after all, today is your day.
It is about the joy of motherhood and to celebrate all kinds of moms’ – the moms to furry kids, the single moms, the foster moms, step-moms and the non-traditional moms’. Celebrate, as Today is about you.
Ruhie Pande 