Working Mom’s Blues: Every day can be Women’s Day!

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One day, while at work, a status call from my eight-year-old son asking about school assignments set me thinking about how much we women juggle between our professional and personal lives. This column is a tribute to all the working women of the world.

Oh dear! Is it already a year? It seems like only yesterday, okay I exaggerate a wee bit, when I was hunting down women achievers, profiling them, and working against deadlines to file my copy for the women’s day special. And, think of it, another Women's Day is upon us again, which means time for me to do an encore of last year's activity.

But this time round, no looking out for super achievers or closet talents. I'd rather spend some time and work out what this day means to me.

Working Mom’s Blues: The maid story

Come to think of it, why should March 8 be unlike any other day? In fact, it's really like every other day. It begins exactly like most days. Morning is a rush of chores, from getting the breakfast on the table and seeing the kids off to school to making a dash for the office and breeze through a series of meetings, more deadlines, and then heading back home for a round of some more of the same. And then it's time to hit the very tempting sack.

But this is not the story of my day alone. I am sure 90 per cent of working women around the world lead similar lives, crammed with similar routines, and maybe a little more madness.

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Feminine frustrations and maternal responsibilities are also the woman's lot. Those 'cranky' days when one would like to be left alone, the 'guilty' days- when your kid is sick and you are figuring out a power-point presentation, those 'low-key' when you feel down and out and totally alone for no known rhyme or reason, and the 'blue' days when one suffers in silence because fighting back doesn't seem a worthwhile option.

Working Mom’s Blues: An (im)balancing act!

But for every downer, there's an upper. For don't we have our highs? When the warm hug of your kid reaches the innermost recesses of your heart, an intimate hug from your beloved reassures you that everything's right with the world. When talking to a friend is uplifting and a word of praise from the boss sounds like music playing in your head.

There's nothing quite like being appreciated and being loved. The craving to be cared for is a universal need. Yet, how often do I practice this when it comes to others?

When my child came running to me to show off his perfect score in dictation, I chided him for the ink stains on his uniform.

Whey my husband surprised me by bringing in the morning tea, I made a big fuss about the mess in the kitchen.

When my neighbour graciously received the courier my brother had sent from the US, I was more bothered about the torn end of the package than with expressing my gratitude.

When my watchman stopped all the cars on the round to help me take my vehicle out, I gave him a dressing down for not cleaning my car properly.

By the same author: Learn and move on!

When I expect every action of mine to be appreciated and recognised, how much am I going by that credo? What if I were to filter out the negativism around and look at the brighter and more positive side of things? Wouldn't every day then be a reason to celebrate?

But, oh lord! What if the power goes off just when I am giving the finishing touches to my story, and I end up losing all the data I have researched for the presentation about to start in the next 10 minutes? There I go and blow it again. How does one stay cool and optimistic?

Here's to more power for all you women out there.

The author is a journalist and mother of an eight-year-old, and divides her time between family, friends and colleagues.

The views expressed in the article are the author's and not of Sify.com

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