Motherhood, an experience that is universal yet unique to each person, creates an array of emotions that surpass all boundaries and speaks to the core of our humanity.
Each year, Mother’s Day presents us with an occasion to express our heartfelt gratitude for their immense impact on our lives. Mother’s Day dates back to the early twentieth century when a woman named Anna Jarvis embarked on a sincere campaign to create a day dedicated to honouring mothers.
Inspired by her mother’s tireless activism for social causes and her great respect for maternal love, Ana wanted to create a special day to honour the nurturing figures in our lives. Her efforts paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson formally declared the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Much like Anna’s mother many of us have seen our mothers juggling family and career with an iron fist. But was the path easy?
“My mother was a working woman and it was really hard for her to manage both work and family. She had to take care of all the household chores like cooking, and taking care of us, as well as work in the office to contribute financially to the family. She tried her best to manage,” said the mother of a 3-year-old and an executive at Inpace Management.
“To be honest, right now being a housewife is a privilege because the condition of our economy has become so bad right now that it is impossible for many to maintain a family unless both husband and wife earn,” said Lubaba (pseudonym), she continued.
Due to the rising living costs along with a need for independence, mothers often have to multitask between raising a child, maintaining a household and building a career for a better future.
One of the most difficult challenges faced by working mothers is the constant pressure to succeed in both their professional and personal lives. They face tremendous societal expectations which can lead to feelings of guilt and inadequacy when they believe they are not meeting all of the responsibilities put on their shoulders.
Many working mothers find themselves having to make difficult choices between improving their jobs and being there for their families – a dilemma that shouldn’t exist in a culture that aims to value both work and family.
So, how can we make lives easier for the working mothers?
“The day I took my baby to the office was the sweetest day of my life,” said Shahana (pseudonym) who is a mother of two and works at the Combined Military Hospital.
Workplaces can incorporate daycare centres for their employees which would lessen their burden so much. They can also offer a hybrid work model which would allow mothers to work alongside keeping an eye on their little ones.
As Shahana shares, she is usually left worrying who will take care of her baby when she is at the office.
“Leaving them with a helping hand is also very nerve wracking as I have no way of knowing if they are properly looking after my children, feeding them and keeping my children safe or not makes,” she adds.
All the negative comments accusing you of not taking care of your babies, not giving them enough time make life harder, but you have to learn to ignore those and be more patient,” she said while adding, “You have to be very strong both mentally and physically.”
“The main problem is that I have to finish all the housework and go to the office and then return home to do the rest of the housework, which a man is exempted from. Then there are family responsibilities, expectations of in-laws, these things society imposes on a girl, irrespective of whether she works or not,” said the Inspace Management executive Lubaba.
“In my case my in-laws and my husband are very supportive. So, I face less difficulties compared to other working mothers,” she added.
It is evident that the role of fathers in this case is very important. It should not fall on the mother alone to do all house chores alongside raising the child!
When asked about advice she would like to give to other working mothers, Lubaba highlighted, “People will have a lot of expectations from you but you should give yourself time, take care of yourself, your babies and family. You should only fulfil your own expectations.”
Mother’s Day encourages us to recognise not only the love and care they give but also the sacrifices they make and the obstacles they face. As we celebrate Mother’s Day this year, let us also commit to supporting and uplifting working mothers, acknowledging their invaluable efforts and ensuring they receive the support and respect they deserve.