A Mother’s Emotion in her Lenses

by ms. Nayan Rath, Mumbai

“Most often when I fail in this multi-tasking, I tell myself, I must work harder.“

March Issue I reached home with a splitting headache—a terrible day at the office. Heavy rain and water logging caused me to get stuck in snail traffic again. The father-daughter duo was in the living room. Too busy to look at me. Ahhh! My bruised mind needs absolute rest. Getting fresh, I prepared a light dinner. ‘Let us have dinner early’, I persuaded both. “No dear! Not now. Have yours and relax. We will take care “. Both echoed. I sheepishly believed them, gulped my dinner, and threw myself on the bed. The next morning, on entering the kitchen, I pulled myself back. A big mess - open casserole, curdling milk, and leftover curry were winking at me. I realized a mother needs to clean the kitchen, no matter what. She is sick, damn tired, no issue! She must clean the kitchen. I am a career woman, a mother, a smiling wife, and a supportive therapist for the family. Most often when I fail in this multi-tasking, I tell myself, I must work harder.

Am I obsessed with Super Woman Syndrome?

In process of joining the dots between career and home. When I say, I am tired. It’s not honky–dory. I am exhausted indeed. This does not mean I want to ignore my family and my responsibility. I just need a concern, and an affectionate hug. When I say I need ME time, it’s some change for me to unwind. That’s all. I did not mean that motherhood was a mistake in my life. It’s wonderful, at what cost? When my children refuse to eat what I cooked at home, I should be sorry for being a lousy cook. When my husband comes home tired from a hectic work schedule, I must take complete care and feel guilty for not being a good wife. Back at work, when something was done imperfectly, I pitied myself for not contributing one hundred percent. There is always a pre-designed box where working mothers are to be fitted into. When you listen to a mother’s scream, it does not mean that she loves to shout. Perhaps she had spoken the same hundred times with a normal tone. When you see a nervous mother on the edge of madness, this does not mean she is insane. When she says she needs help, that’s precisely what she means. She is not incapable of making simple noodles for dinner occasionally. When she loves a break with childhood pals, it does not mean she prefers to be ‘single’ again. When she says, she is worried, that’s literally what she is! She does not want to falter like a coward and disown her responsibility. Do not invent an untruth to judge someone, let alone a woman who gives up her own life to cherish the life of those who are special to her. There is none on earth who can sacrifice more than a MOTHER. And mothers deserve a bit more understanding and fewer trials. We have a little emotion while saying ‘I don’t care ‘and with little pain we say ‘It’s okay’. 13 Articles