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Parenting
The Perks and
Perils of being
a stay-at-home Mom
by Garima Gupta
 This
is the dilemma of the new-age woman. It symbolizes the struggle of the
values and aspirations. It’s a dilemma that every mother faces, no
matter how ambitious or content she might be. This is, also probably,
the least discussed aspect of the new woman.
To be or not to be a stay-at-home mother is a difficult question to
answer for most woman. The answer is as personal and specific, as
general the question is!! More and more highly qualified woman, however,
are opting out of the rat race in favor of staying at home. What lures
these woman to give up years of hard work at school, college and work,
high speed thrill of cut-throat competition and promotions and comfort
and luxuries of an additional income ? And more importantly, once they
do take the plunge, how do they find the ride?
The perks are aplenty. Watching the kids grow, step-by-step,
word-by-word is a pleasure that nothing else in the world can compare.
To be there when they are sick, when they take the first step, when they
return from school bursting with excitement about 4 stars earned at the
football game, or crying at the deep cut on knee , gives a satisfaction
that no official presentation can match up to. While kids may or may not
benefit more from an available parent, it is for sure that the parent
does get a lot from being around. Moving beyond kids and parenting, the
time at home also gives an opportunity to you to hone your skills, to
pursue your hobbies, to excel in your dreams, and to build a success
uniquely yours. If you are planning to, or have already given up ‘work’
to be at home, consider it as the start of the best period of your life.
For, a lot of optimism is indeed needed on a daily basis for the mundane
routine ‘work’ at home. But you are considering this decision as a
‘sacrifice’ to your family , you are headed for an emotional
roller-coaster!
The stumbling blocks are aplenty. One can find a lot of woman, who gave
up their flourishing careers at the fist meeting with motherhood, and
now live frustrated day in and day out. This also shows at their
parenting skills, for which they ironically left their jobs in the first
place. Feeling of loss of identity, coming to terms with a single income
and additional expense, increasing dependence on the husband are a few
others. If you feel you are stuck in a rut, I urge you to go out and
explore the possibilities, The world is an open place. If you are an
unhappy human being , there is no way you can raise happy children.
Imagine the possibilities; and go after them! Part-Time or work-at-home
options can be promising for woman who wants the best of both worlds.
In a nutshell, If you have decided to be a stay-at-home mom to enjoy
your kids and your life, and to better the quality of life of those
around you, enjoy your decision. Enjoy it every single day. Make the
most of the life. Generations of people have come and gone, busy
figuring out the meaning of life, their purpose of the journey, busy
being the most rich, famous, whatever. Eventually, the rat race leads
you nowhere. The life leads you nowhere. Because, it is you, who lead
the life. If you have the liberty of being free from the financial
burden of providing for your family, then do explore the other options.
For the solitary purpose of getting and giving happiness. And if this
happiness comes to you by knowing that you don’t have to close the door
on a wailing child everyday to reach work on time, then what’s wrong
with it ? The bottom line is: do it for yourself, not for your children.
Kids grow up well, if whatever time parents give them is full of
affection and attention.
July 23, 2006
Image under license with
Gettyimages.com
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| Parenting
The Week of July 23, 2006
Next Ninety Days : What Bush Might Attempt ...
by Rajinder Puri
The Pains of Failed Vigilantism by Col Rahul
K. Bhonsle
Lebanon : A
Panchtantra for Foolish Indians by Gaurang Bhatt, MD
Mumbai 7/11 : A Week Thereafter by Dr.
Subhash Kapila
Bumptious UPA Secularism vs. Jihadic Terrorism
by V. Sundaram
Development for the Common Man by Kusum
Choppra
Monsoon Music by Dr. Prasenjit Maiti
The Necessity of Ambition by TA Ramesh
Raindrops on the Roof Top by VK Joshi
The Perks and Perils of being a stay-at-home
Mom by Garima Gupta
Vastu Interiors and Colors by
Niranjan Babu Bangalore
The Pachyderm Priest by Sujata Iyer
The Heart that Loved by Naghma Masroor
Tortures and Travails of a Retired House-Husband
by C.R. Gopalakrishna
Travel Tit Bits by Kusum Choppra
Advantage
Eurostar by Rajesh Talwar
Hail Mumbai by Naghma Masroor
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