Women, heal the world by walking a new path that is life-affirming to everybody, creating a safe space to uncover and balance oneself in every walk of life. At Kerala Insider, we not only celebrate the womanhood but also honor the diversity in motherhood.
It was Rose Kennedy who said, “I looked on child rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that demanded the best that I could bring to it.” Like Rose, indeed motherhood is a profession, and it certainly deserves the best you can bring to it.
It is not the 1940s where young mothers were contemplating on working or taking part time jobs, whilst being a full time mom. There are many mothers who manage a full time business or start up a venture or is an entrepreneur. Guess our new generation seems to have it all under control, from managing professional/business life and being a super mom at home.
Bye-bye diapers and casseroles— today’s at-home mom is… who gets the best of two worlds
The landscape has certainly changed; now, instead of “Work versus staying home?” the question for moms-to-be is often “What work can I do from home?” or “What business can I start from home?” Never will you miss the first giggle and first baby step and yet working from home gives an identity other than ‘mom.’ A feeling of being the same person that you were before the baby—partly due to the continuing professional life.
It can be a crazy juggling act on some days, but most WAHMs say the multitasking is worth it. The best part of the work/kid combination is that one is not lost and drowned in diapers and plastic building blocks but a feeling of a healthy individual, which in conclusion makes the person a better mother and an even better role model to the next generation.
A handy checklist from experienced WAHMs to be a successful WAHM
The right attitude: Balancing a business/venture while being at home is still work, there’s just not someone else telling you what to do and when to do it. The key to success is self-motivated to haul yourself out of bed at dawn and get cracking before the baby wakes up—or stay up past baby’s bedtime when you’re likely tired too.
A plan: Crossing your fingers and winging it is not enough. Get into the business/ work, when it’s convenient for you — many might prefer weekends depending on the support system
A support system: Spouses arrangement, play dates and maybe a baby sitter to fill in during crunch times and keep a stash of exciting new toys to pull out when necessary.
A realistic schedule and your own space: Even if it’s a tiny corner of your dining room, you need a physical space devoted to work, as sometimes your nap time is almost your work time. A good practice to keep the office hour schedule intact.
Lots of flexibility with feed time: As a stay-at-home mom, a lot more leeway your schedule when things go wrong. You can also run errands during nonpeak hours—hitting the grocery store, the bank and the gym at 10 a.m. versus the 5:30 p.m. rush or scheduling doctor appointments and haircuts when it’s most convenient for you, not your supervisor. At-home entrepreneurs don’t have to worry about toting the industrial-strength breast pump to the office or pumping in the bathroom, one can nurse the baby whenever one wants.
Siestas: Napping during the day is a huge benefit for, especially after a wakeful night with the baby. Losing a lot of sleep at night takes its toll quickly, let’s get that snooze on.
Smell the coffee: The infant stage flies by in a flash, so savor every day and plan your professional life.
Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean your life has to be all baby, all the time. In fact, having a grown-up outlet will make you a better—and happier—mom.
Here are some ways to do it:
- Find an activity that works with your baby’s schedule
- Focus on one specific, nonbaby thing each day
- Reading a novel (as opposed to yet another baby book) gives an escape through the early weeks and months of motherhood.
Simple and realistic goals to manage both your motherhood and your venture would mean no mother quits her professional passion. Let motherhood be just a phase and let it not stand anywhere between your professional goals.
In Stephen Covey’s words –
“Being responsible for our own lives… our behaviour is a function of our decisions, not our conditions.”
Concerns which are out of one’s influence would not really change; young mothers have the choice to not get overwhelmed and not get anxious by them but just let them ‘BE’.
Aren’t we all learning new things when life announces a new phase or journey. So, enjoy each journey one step at a time.
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Succinctly summed up Sharika ! Especially in a world that espouses more flexibility at work and mobile work places, this does make a lot of sense !
Well said, Shari… New Moms are getting smarter… Your article will help all those Moms who are in dilemma of quitting their job or to continue their career being in their motherhood… This will motivate them to make a right choice….. Nice one!!!