Be it a working class woman, a corporate office employee or a celebrity mom, the guilt of not spending enough time with their kids haunts all of them. The assurance of financial stability often makes women carry on with a job, leaving kids at home. Orissa POST spoke to a few working women about balancing the pressures of work and home.
Subhadra Rath, banker, says, “It is one of the toughest jobs to maintain a balance between your family and job. Being a banker, I have to spend 12 hours a day at my workplace. As a result, I find it hard to spend quality time with my baby who is only two. I make sure not to leave him alone on the weekends. Though I am his biological mother, it is his paternal grandmother who dons the mother’s hat in my absence. I always feel guilty about not doing enough for my baby. But I am hopeful that my child will understand my situation when he grows up.”
Deepti Patra, who works in the HR department of a Delhi-based company, says, “Motherhood is the greatest blessing for a woman. Gone are the days when women had to focus only on the upbringing of their children and managing the household. Now women don the roles of a mother and a working professional and manage both sides efficiently. One of my friends once told me that the attitude of her senior towards her changed after her baby was born. Often, she was given lower-level assignments. Her boss made her feel like a less productive person in the office. I was also fearful thinking about my post-childbirth situation. However, I am lucky when it comes to taking care of my angel who is now four months old because I have the liberty of working from home. It makes a lot of things easier. I would like to say a big ‘thank-you’ to my boss. ”
Arupa Gayatri Panda, an exponent of Odissi who is also head of the department (HOD) of performing arts at Sri Sri University, says, “I am lucky to have very understanding in-laws who look after my baby so well. I even go for tours to perform Odissi at many places leaving my baby with my in-laws who care a lot for her. Still, I always have a feeling of guilt, though I keep telling myself that I should not feel guilty. Lack of support would have made it difficult to manage both household and office properly. However, I don’t have to worry about this.”
Sneha Pati, a mother of two who works in a nationalised bank, says, “It’s true that every working woman carries guilt while going to office leaving their babies at home. Earlier, things were not difficult because people were living in joint families. The rise of nuclear families has made it difficult for working women to give their children enough care. My mother was a teacher. She used to go to school while others would look after my siblings and me. She never felt guilty of leaving the children at home. That does not mean she neglected her children. Today, we are well settled in our respective fields thanks to her dedication and love. It all depends on you how you manage both fronts.”
RASHMI REKHA DAS, OP
