How to become an Entrepreneurial Mommy?

Mothers who aren’t able to get back to work for whatever reason should start using whatever free time they have to think of ideas of doing something which fulfills them. As your child grows bigger and doesn’t need you as much and starts going to school you seem to have more time on your hand. You need to start making a roadmap in advance about what is it that you want to do and how do you want to go about it? 

Mothers all over the world are coming up with the most amazing ideas. I think it is important for mothers to find time and do something for themselves apart from taking care of their families. Most Indian moms feel or are made to feel that once they have had kids all they are supposed to do is put others before themselves, their needs and wants are of much lesser significance.

I have lately come across exemplary mothers who are contributing post having their babies and nothing has stopped them from achieving their dream. The other day I came across an article on this lady and new mommy, Natasha Bajaj who has started her own line of clothing called 'N&J'. Her website has trendy apparel for expecting mom and nursing moms. She has tapped into a space where not many players exist. Then there is the duo Deepika Khaitan and Sanjana Nath both mommies who have started a salon for kids called 'Flick' where kids get a pollution-free environment for a haircut, girls can get their nails done and hair braided. They also have a play-area for kids so that moms can pamper themselves while the children are taken care of.  

There is Lahar Bhatnagar who is mom to two most adorable kids and she is an author of '100 ways to be stress free mom and raise happy kids" , a parent coach and founder of Nirvanama. She keeps all the mommies agog for more tips on what to do and not to do? Megha Malik, mommy to two angel like girls, she is the founder of Resa Fine Jewelry. She has the most exquisite jewellery designs which you would have never seen before, she also travels extensively exhibiting her talent all across the world.  

Anika Kalha, mommy to two amazing kids, she is the one who curates one of the finest cutlery, crockery and canvas paintings from artisans all across the country and exhibits it under the name of ‘Seventh Sense’.  Her work is brilliant .

I feel so proud to know these ladies from all walks of life. There are many such examples of women which show - how mothers can balance out bringing-up their children and yet do something for themselves by thinking innovatively. It’s just about coming up with an innovative and unique idea and managing your time.

It is very fulfilling to go out there and do what you enjoy doing, and your life has a sense of purpose beyond taking care of your home, family and children. When you come back from work, you will find that you are recharged to take care of your family. I see that I am a better mom when I have given myself some time. You need to take care of your needs too. We Indian wives/moms seem to forget ourselves in the process; everything else seems to have higher priority than ourselves. 

But only if you take care of yourself will you be able to take care of your family. You need to take care of yourself emotionally, physically and spiritually, and only then can you take care of others' emotional physical and spiritual needs. That’s why it is important to find your calling and get to work.

 I find so many Indian women who feel overburdened with family and housework, but forget that there is life beyond it. They reach their 50s and are full of regrets; there is a feeling of non-fulfillment. This feeling stems from the fact that stay-at -home moms aren’t the 'bread earners'; the work done at home is taken for granted, since you don’t get a salary when you’re a stay- at-home mom. We keep trying to justify ourselves and at the end of the day we are miserable.

We need to empower ourselves and make this change. We need to stop feeling guilty; either we need to look for opportunities and get to work or be content and satisfied about being a stay-at-home mom. Staying at home too is a lot of work. We don’t need to justify to anyone why you’re working and not at home, nor as to why you are a stay-at-home mom. Do what makes you happy and content. I decided to write a book to share my experiences with others and that’s what makes me happy. There is no situation in life that can stop you from reaching where you want to be.

 We women need to empower and uplift each other instead bringing each other down. Its only when we uplift each other, we see a positive change. In this country of patriarchy it is us women who need to stand together for our right for equality whether at home or at work. Men still get a higher salary for the same skill set; men don’t have to make choices to take a break in their careers when they have to start a family. When we women stand by each other, is when we can make that change. Men in the west are brought up differently and both husband and wife contribute equally at work and home. The children also watch their parents treating each other as equals and grow up to do the same. 

A friend of mine shared a incident where her son noticed his father carrying his own plate to the kitchen which seemed out of ordinary for the child and asked the mother “why is papa carrying his plate, isn’t that a job for girls?” this notion that the kitchen is a place for women and the man is the bread winner is the indoctrinated in our families and needs to change. We need to change our environment at home, because our children are watching us and learning from us. So if we want to be treated equal, we need to show our kids what being equal is even at home. And it starts from sharing all responsibilities. It honestly never to late to start thinking about yourself. More power to all you mothers out there.

The joys of motherhood aren’t fully experienced until the children are in bed -anon