Nobody warns you that the hardest part of being a working mother in India isn't the workload. It's the guilt. Guilt at the office when a school event notification appears on your phone. Guilt at home when the laptop is still open at 9 PM. Guilt when you need help and guilt when you ask for it. And somewhere underneath all of it, the persistent, exhausting question: Am I doing enough—at work, at home, for myself—or am I failing at all three simultaneously? The answer, for most Indian working mothers, is that you are doing more than enough—in a system that was not designed for you to succeed in both roles simultaneously and that has never been fully honest about that fact. Strategies for working mothers in India have to be built around Indian realities—not Western frameworks that assume equitable domestic load-sharing, affordable childcare infrastructure, or the freedom to set boundaries without significant social consequences. The strategies below are built for the actual contex...
We have all heard about “influencers” in this era, thanks to social media. That sort of influence has a slight in common with real influence at work. Once you understand what it feels like to be motivated by people who have made an identifying mark in your life, you have a feeling of significant influence, person to person. Now it is your shot. If you are ready to show how to be a positive influence, here are a few steps that will meaningfully change how you relate to anyone in your life. 1. Respond, don’t react: Life is sometimes hard, and you cannot become everyone’s cup of tea. Suppose that somebody said something negative about you or something dear to you. What will you do? Analyze and pause to regain your calmness and think fairly Pausing to analyze and think will give you a chance to respond in a better way. People will see this attitude of yours and get influenced by it. So, it’s a win-win situation for you. 2. Be honest about your own emotions: Of course, being posit...