Ravia Gupta
“Life is not easy for any of us. We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained….”
Why do you go Mama? A simple straight question was raised by my 2.3 years old son, while I was putting him to sleep during a short lunch break from office. Oh my god! Did he just ask me this question, which I knew he would one day when he grew old, but wasn’t prepared this early? Hard to answer, so took a deep breath and told him that mama has to go to work. Blame it on his age or the inquisitive mind– here came an even tougher one this time….But, Why Do You Go To Work Mama?
Of course, didn’t have much time to answer, and keeping his innocence in mind, the answer had to be short and simple. So, I told him Once We Grow Big, We All Have To Work. I guess that worked for him for the time being, as he fell asleep, but kept me thinking for long, if I was doing the right thing? Was my answer good enough? How could I better my answer if he asked the same question next time?
I could never ask this question to my mom ever, as she was always there for us all the time. We could tell her to do anything anytime, be it cooking whatever and whenever, be it shopping wherever, playing anything, packing everything, in fact even doing that little bit of remaining homework sometimes by showing her those big fat tears and be assured of her help all the time, like all the time, even when it came to shielding us from dad’s after work wrath.
Now that my mom was always there and I am unable to spend as much time with my child, so does this means that I love my child any lesser or that I could never be as good as my mom, simply because I choose to work, not necessarily at home, but outside those truly strong protected walls of love, care, affection which stand even taller by the sacrifices of the lady of the house.
Will I be ever able to explain him the importance of different kinds of love in life and work is just one of those kinds of love which you hate to do sometimes, but enjoy the perks and not just the monetarily ones that come along…Will I be able to make him understand the internal compulsion of using one’s potential to the fullest for a fulfilling day. Will I be able to tell him what confidence does to you when you challenge the impossible head-on, will I be able to explain him the joy that comes by creating a valuable life beyond yours own. Will I be able to explain him the joy of freedom, sense of accomplishment, and feeling of being wanted and cherished, besides the space that it creates not just materially but also in the hearts of the people that become a part of your journey of life too.
Sure for decades women who choose to work while raising a family must have struggled balancing the pressures of both work and life. Many working moms must have dreamt of a fulfilling home life, a rewarding professional career and must have earnestly prayed for the right energy to keep up with the demands of both while finding some ‘me’ time too and I am no exception and like Jim Henson rightly says, “It is the attitude you have as a parent is what your kids will learn from more than what you tell them. They don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember you for what you are,” and now on that note let me also keep my fingers crossed too!!
ravia.gupta@gmail.com
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
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