WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE TO WORK FULL-TIME AND BE A MOM!

All those clichés—those things you hear about having a baby and motherhood—all of them are true. And all of them are the most beautiful things you will ever experience.

Women are inspiring. They hold high-powered positions across different industries; they start their own businesses, and they raise families.

In fact, about 40 percent of Indian women with children are in the workforce.

But how do we do it all with only 24 hours in the day? Here is my experience in this 3.4 years journey of Full Time Working professional vs Full Time Working professional.

1. Yes, It Is HARD - “Working full-time while raising my daughter is just plain hard. I don’t really know what to say when people ask, ‘How do you do it all?’ Maybe the best answer is ‘I don’t.’ So, rather than asking that, the question should be, ‘How do you make it work?’ I permit myself to have a sink full of dirty dishes, have a child at daycare that always has super crazy hair, and be?OK with a walk down the street as my exercise that day.?The best advice I can come up with is: be flexible, lower your expectations, laugh at yourself, be present, and try to enjoy the little moments.”
2. I Work Because I Love It-“I work because I love it . I for sure know none of us are doing it perfectly, but every mom I know is doing her best. The most important thing we can do is not judge each other and give each other – and ourselves – grace.”“We need to stop glorifying being a martyr for our family. We should take care of ourselves in order to give our best to our kiddos. My uterus doesn’t dictate my ability to do a good job. I work not because I have to, but because I can. I’m very privileged to be able to choose whether or not I work. I have a daughter. I want my daughter to know she can have the same career opportunities and freedoms as men.
3. Ask Yourself -Is It a Financial Necessity?-“Why do I work? While It’s a financial necessity for my family to live the lifestyle in our chosen area. However, I have a?genuine passion for my work… I guess I would feel redundant if I don't work. I would carve out work as part of my life (like I do over the weekend). Although it’s a huge juggle between my mind and heart, I hope I am able to teach my daughter important lessons about work: How (to do work) she finds meaningful, (how to) maintain (her) independence, and (how to) contribute to society – by demonstrating life as a working mother.”
4. Seek Help-“It all comes down to compartmentalizing and not being ashamed of seeking help. It’s important to be a good professional and a good mother, but it’s essential to be present in both roles instead of stressing about failing someone all of the time. When I am with my daughter, I try to put my cell phone in the other room and keep my laptop aside. When I am at work, I am very clear that only urgent personal calls will be entertained. Sometimes it’s difficult, but I seek help if required.
5. My Support Network- By Support Network, I don't mean Nanny or Family support at home. It's crucial for us to surround ourselves with like-minded people. It's like a blessing in disguise to have a person that knows what you’re going through, can cheer you on, give tips and tricks, and to be an ear to listen to complaints and tears. Without that support, it would be very difficult to do all that I do as working in one of our most important jobs of being a?mom.”
6. Knew My Limits- This is the most important aspect of my life. As a full-time working mom, I have defined my limits. I know how much time I would need alone – outside of work and kids – because my professional and mother's job will suffer when we are burnt out. I found the most effective way to juggle in this case. I have gotten into Fitness Regime, Continued my Passion for Running Marathons and, Last but not least - salons and SPA" This is #MyTime .
7. Firmly Believe There is No Such Thing as Balance -“First and foremost, there’s no such thing as balance. We do a double shift. 1st Shift in Office and 2nd Shift with Kids at home. Therefore I strongly advocate?work-life harmony (replace word Balance), because there is always an ebb and flow to my responsibilities and obligations to my family and my work, not to mention to my friends, my community, and myself.” No matter we have to Take care of all of them.
8. Last But Not Least - ENJOY EVERY MOMENT- From a big bump to touching tiny little fingers and toes, from crawling to standing up on my feet and running, I try to remember to stop for a moment and recall those times and cherish them as lifetime memory both at work and when with family. Enjoy the moments because, at the end of the day, this is what it’s really all about.”

Just Remember - Working does not make us less of a mom.?Being a mom doesn’t make us weaker employees.?I applaud you if you are working because your family depends on it financially.?If you work because you love what you do or it’s simply who you are, be proud of what you are accomplishing.?I believe we have a way of calming ourselves that many others do not.?Things start to go wrong at work, and we are the last ones to overreact.?It’s evident that this catastrophe is small potatoes compared to raising our kids under the age of five.

?I see the kindness in every mom's eyes when a teammate is beating herself up about a mistake.?While Others marvel at our patient and forgiving attitude, we understand that possessing these qualities is non-negotiable when it comes to raising our kids. ?

Repeat It in your mind…I?am?good at my job.?I?am?a good mom.?I’ve got this.??