When I sat down to write this article, I was really forced to think about what I do on a daily basis and how I make my life work. I have now been running on a “don’t stop, just keep going” kind of system for the past five years since my first child was born and haven’t had a minute to think, especially once the second one came along.
The good part is that now I have thought it out and I know how deeply indebted I am to all those people who are a part of my system and help me to keep all the juggling balls in the air. I run a boutique PR company in New Delhi, I am a mom to a 2 and 5-year-old, I am on the parent committee at my daughter’s school that supports school activities and I run a fast-growing parenting peer support Facebook group online. As if that doesn’t keep my hands full, I also have an active social life!
The perks of running your own company are that you can schedule your time as needed. That said, working in the ever-demanding client-oriented PR industry means that you can never truly shut off. You have to be available to your clients come what may, whatever time of the day.
This is where your support system comes in.
In these last few years, I have learned that your support system is crucial. I am lucky enough to have willing grandparents and close friends who can step in at a moment’s notice as and when I need it.
My husband and I share equal responsibility with the kids. For the most part, we don’t have a nanny. Yes, there are times when we do, but we still try and do as much for our kids as we can by ourselves. They are our kids and want to be as involved with them as we possibly can. We have tried our best to make our kids independent and self-sufficient. And thanks to our support system, we have managed reasonably well even with 9 pm cross-continental con calls.
The key I’ve discovered is to not feel guilty about using your support system. Just be grateful.
The advantage of being a working mom is that it makes you super-duper efficient. I can now complete tasks in half the time it used to take me earlier and I can multitask like nobody’s business. It’s never-ending and I sometimes wonder how I ever felt tired before while doing a fraction of what I do now. I have learned that you can do it all, as long as you just keep pushing through. Don’t let anything stop you. Juggle, juggle and you’ll manage one way or another.
For me having two kids was important. Having grown up with a sibling I wanted my children to have them too. While that has meant a lot more work for us as parents, the upside is that they are constant company for each other. I don’t have to worry about entertaining them as they play together endlessly. But being a parent to young kids is a mentally and physically exhausting job. I’ve found that the best way for me to get my energy back is by exercising. I have always been a bit of a gym addict but haven’t had the time to go as much as I used to since my younger one was born. So I gave up my gym membership because I couldn’t work it into my daily schedule and now instead, I go for a late evening jog after the girls are asleep. Never fails to help clear my head and an additional bonus is the pumped-up endorphins.
My final tip would make the time to spend with your friends. Nothing de-stresses like a night out with your fun bunch! Even if you are tired, push yourself to go out. You won’t regret it!
Pia Desai Pasricha
Mom to two little girls
COO of Comma Consulting PR & Partner Mommy A-Z Facebook Group
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