Reflections For Working Moms
| The term “working” mother seems somewhat absurd because in reality every mother is a working mother -- trying to juggle between her responsibilities as a housekeeper, cook, wife and most importantly as a mother. |
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But in the true sense, the term “working mother” refers to those mothers who work outside their homes, in order to supplement the household income.
Trying to balance family on one hand and career on the other often leaves a working mother feeling as though she were walking the tight rope. It is not at all easy, especially when one considers the numerous challenges and concerns associated with being a working mother. The feeling of guilt is so overpowering in working mothers because they feel they are unable to devote adequate time to the kids. At the same time they have deadlines to meet at the work place. No matter how efficient and organized one is or how well one manages her time, the pressure of being a working mother often creates huge stress. This feeling of guilt reaches its peak when your kids grow up and openly express that ‘you were never around’ when they actually needed you, or that they felt that you were like a ‘visiting mother’, or when somebody points out that your kid’s behavior is not normal and that your absence from home is the cause for such a negative development of your child.
One must learn to cope with these kinds of problems. First of all, stop feeling guilty about not being able to spend adequate time with the kids. It is not the quantity of time but the quality that matters. You can engage yourself undisturbed for sometime with the kids and do activities together like playing games, painting, playing musical instruments, dancing and reading out a story, or what ever your child enjoys doing. Ask them about how their day was. Allow them to open up and discuss their problems with you. All this will create a very strong bond between you and the kids. Regularly calling from the office to communicate with the kids is important since it makes them feel that you are approachable whenever they need you. Hiring a dependable domestic help to assist you with the household chores and to attend to the kids during your absence will be immensely helpful and also reduce your burden considerably.
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