Proud Working Mom!

Are you a Working Mom? Or Planning to be one? Or are confused if you want to become one? Are you married to one being, planning to or considering being a Working Mom? If yes, this article might be of use for you. Or not. You decide.

I am one Proud Working Mom, 'Proud' being prefix for both Working and Mom. I want to mention reasons which you might connect with or share a few tips if you are struggling. I am taking the liberty to mention the points about my journey and you can pick or drop whatever you like or dislike in that order:

1. I have always considered this to be my personal choice if I wanted to become a Working Mom. No one, literally no one else has a right to decide how I feel about it. I should not be forced to feel a certain way i.e. guilty for working/ not working, too ambitious for wanting to work or too lazy not wanting to work, orthodox/ unorthodox for prioritizing family over work or vice versa and the list goes on.. My spouse deserves a right to have a discussion about this, put the points on table for family getting affected a certain way or request for some time or the request for the way this should be communicated to the family etc. However I need to know that I hold the final right. Whatever I choose, I am right!
2. Linked to the first topic, I want to mention for working moms that having a spouse who respects your career, who honors you as a professional, who supports you through ups and downs, who tries to help in your struggles as a Working Mom which is bound to happen, who is not going to judge you for incidents you consider as your failures as a mom rather going to remind you how you are a great mother, who is appreciative of both your commitment to motherhood and dedication to career is a BLESSING! If you've got one, please don't forget to mention this to them at every opportunity you get. Celebrate the fact you've got a spouse who is different than many. I have always counted this as one of my greatest blessings!
3. If I am proud of my work and not guilty that I work, my child is going to be proud of me and my work too. Ever since my boy was 2 years old, he used to start crying whenever we say that mamma's gonna stop working. While he wants me to have as many holidays/ leaves as possible, he doesn't want me to stop working. He joins my husband in pulling my leg over me being a workaholic and too competitive. He knows while he's my topmost priority, I am not fully me without my work. He has seen me work during COVID WFH days very closely and has grown prouder for his mother. His love as well as respect make everything we've been through worthwhile!
4. While we should try to spend as much time possible with our kid and family, we shouldn't feel guilty for not being able to sometimes, because of work. We should know the value of quality over quantity. Similarly, we shouldn't feel guilty for not being able to deliver something at work due to mom duties. Of course, we are going to try to be everywhere every time but we need to know and remember that it is not possible. If I have tried my best and still not able to do something as a mother or as a professional, I rather cut myself some slack. I will get way too many opportunities to make things right. This was not the last one. I know that I am lucky to have the best of both the worlds and hence I might have to over think and over plan and over work which I will if I am able to do one most important thing: Get rid of the guilt!
5. I am not competing with anyone. Neither other working mothers, nor housewife mothers, nor entrepreneur mothers, nor colleagues who choose not to be mothers or get married, nor my male colleagues. My career graph, my happiness quotient, my growth and my personality development are independent of all the other people. Everyone around has different tools and is working on their own project which is unique. Nobody has exactly same story, family, life, IQ, EQ or even presence like me. I try to appreciate the similarities and differences, the ones that are visible to me and the ones that are not. I don't feel bad for something they've got over me and don't feel good for something I've got over them. I do not compare myself or my situation with anyone else!
6. I know that 'Perfect Mother' is an imaginary word. Just like, there is no perfect human being, perfect professional, perfect daughter or perfect spouse. While all the mothers are perfect in some sense, I do not strive to be a perfect mother all the time. I am OK being vulnerable in front my son sometimes, I negotiate with him a better gift for failing to meet a time commitment sometimes, I am his partner in crime sometimes, I share office gossip with him sometimes, I listen to his school gossip sometimes, I share his love for unhealthy tasty food sometimes, I love being privy to his secrets sometimes, I love him trying to help me with my work so that we get more time to spend together sometimes. I love how I am not always a perfect human being around him with no flaws whatsoever, I love being an imperfect mother always!

I would be so happy if this article reaches even one present or would be or could be mother who needed to read this! #workingmom #workingparents #wfh #motherhood #imperfect #imperfection #notguilty #worklifebalance #proudmom #blessedandgrateful #mother