Hello, Mum! Let’s go 9-5 again!

Resham Mehtani

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Hello, Mum! Let’s go 9-5 again!

Motherhood, the beacon of love & devotion and a commitment to raising a beautiful soul, you brought into this world, with a promise of being their guide, at each step, a promise of becoming an example for them, to learn from, while striking a balance between personal and professional life. How many of us, mothers, however, are able to achieve the ideal dream of being the perfect combination of, what we tag as - Supermom? Well, I for one, have learned, that I don’t need to be perfect, because if I aimed for something as ideal, I’d burn myself. Having said that, you, yes, you ARE PERFECT! 

How, you may ask? 

Because you thrive to become better, you thrive to become the one your child will idealise, considering you THE icon. From the very moment you lay your eyes on the divine creation - your little bundle of joy - in whom resides your life, your world, you feel overwhelmed, because, well, I don’t need to spell that out for you, for you’re a mother, too. A few days pass by, and you’re dealing with an ocean of emotions, while being constantly on the lookout for the remainder of the maternity leave. Then begins a rush of emotions, and a forest of questions in your head - How will I manage my work and the baby?, Will someone take care of my baby as well as I do?, Will he/she eat well?… a never ending string of want for answers. 

Back then, going to work, while you were carrying, all seemed like a plan, in your head, as to how you’d get back to work after you deliver. Reality strikes when you cross that bridge! The best way to come out victorious from this situation is (might sound cliche) - to stay calm - and this does work! Give yourself space, time and most importantly, the energy to think clearly. You don’t need me to tell you that a panicky mind leads to a clouded judgement. Let’s break this down into simpler steps, shall we? 

1. Hire an experienced nanny - Much before you resume office, you might want to invest in a trained nanny, who’d, under your supervision, would look after the baby, and take care of the littlest of things, giving you some much needed relaxation. This way, the baby would also get familiar with the caretaker, aside from you - your warmth is forever irreplaceable!

 2. Never hesitate to ask for help - As a new mother, you would always have someone to lean on. Be it the father of your child, or your mother, or your mother-in-law, you have the right to seek help. Sometimes, however, when that’s not enough, there’s always your girlfriend(s) - smile!

 3. YOU run your business, don’t let IT control you - Be in control of your business, for you get to decide how much and when, lady boss. As an entrepreneur, you’re out there to make it big and leave a mark, the best way to carve your path back into the professional world is to measure the amount of time spent at work. Go part time, instead of full throttle.

 4. Discipline and a regular routine is the solution you need - Because the morning hustle will come soon, you’ll need to be ready with your armor, when it hits - that is, a routine for you and your baby… a time managed schedule. To ensure that you’re at peace while at work, you might want to follow a defined time table for your baby - timely meals, bath, diaper changes, and of course, naps. The sooner you achieve that, the better. BUT be prepared for this plan to fail on certain days, for the baby is the actual boss 

 5. Last minute checklist - Being under almost house arrest all these months, the luxury to sleep as and when you wish, hair in a lose bun, you enjoyed a 9 month long pyjama party, but now’s the time to slip back into the formals, those heels and clatter your way out of the comfort of your home. Reality check - you’re now a new person, a mother is born, with the body that looks very different from what it was before you conceived. Don’t hesitate to buy clothes of different size than the ones already hung in your wardrobe.

Just like any other article, I wouldn’t write a conclusion, all I’d say is - the onus is on you, so, get up, mum, and off to work…