Happy (Working) Mother’s Day – Your Career is Making You a Better Mother

My mother was working as a principal at a school. While she used to spend quality time with us, her not being always around made me responsible, self sufficient and disciplined. Even today, I think these are my biggest strengths. The same holds true for my daughter. She is independent, confident, self reliant and those may be reasons that she is ahead of her peers.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I, for once, know how touchy the celebrations can become for some of the mothers out there. It is a day which overwhelmingly makes us women realise the sheer gravity of being a “mother”. “Am I doing enough?”“Am I giving enough attention to my kids?” “Am I cooking good, healthy meals?” Mothers and their over-critical selves! Hence, come such special days and the worries once again raise their heads. But here’s something I would like to ask my readers – “Has you being a working mother or a stay-at-home mum really changed the way your kids have turned out/ are turning out to be?” Would you differ in teaching the right kind of values to your children – whether you prefer to be at an office or be at home? Simpler still, would you not help your child complete the homework, finish school projects, schedule doctor visits, attend school functions, and so on, in spite of doing a full-time job or be available at home? I know your answer would be a ‘yes’.

Just give your 100 percent

While most of our population is still divided into whether a woman needs to give up on her career post having kids, or take a break for some years, or get back to work regardless, I would like to share some interesting facts. Apparently, the children whose mothers go back to work before the child even turns three years of age face no academic or behavioural problems compared to stay-at-home mothers. If that isn’t encouraging enough, there is enough research that talks about how kids benefit from having a working mom.

Also, not all stay-at-home mothers take care of their children 24*7. Some opt for daycares in spite of being available round-the-clock so that they get time to finish chores or to meet the child’s social needs. My point is, there is no really right or wrong. And neither has anyone managed to prove what category kids turn out to be “better”. Everyone does well for themselves. It is important not to burden yourself with guilt but to make most of each role you have to perform as a woman.

Working mothers are unique!

If you are still feeling tad teary-eyed at the thought of having to return to work each morning, let me tell you then how being a working mother benefits you at the workplace!

• It gives you the much-needed space which allows you to appreciate the time you get at home. This holds true for the children as well, who actually enjoy being with other kids at a daycare for some part of the day and also develop good social skills.
• It ups your multi-tasking skill set. You learn to prioritise things better.
• You have much more to share with your family when at the dinner table. Not just daily happenings but larger experiences and exposure to other sides of life.
• Being financially independent does wonder for your self-esteem. It gives you a certain confidence of being important and respected wherever you go.
• You get to challenge yourself on other aspects. In fact, you yourself will be surprised to see what all you are actually good at! A little pat on the back from co-workers, a letter of appreciation from the bosses, all such things go a long way. This leads to happiness, which will automatically reflect on the home front.

Celebrate yourself

Working in a professional space enriches you as a person and in turn, your family. Also, there are certain things which kids learn best from the outside world. As a mother, you really cannot spoon-feed every value, every smallest of thing. Allow them to step out of the house and become a little more independent. Hence, a working mother brings in something good for everyone around her. The only issue here is that you need to let go of any guilt feeling, in case you have, or low morale, and wholeheartedly be open to accepting the kind of lifestyle you have chosen. After all, your career doesn’t define how you are as a mother. Trust me, you will undoubtedly be good at both the roles – professional and personal.

Hence, it would be wise to enjoy every step of life, and thus, all the occasions. Wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!