Family or Work - A woman's perspective

The topic is an interesting one all by it self. It’s a well known fact (err... not sure) that when you want to succeed, sky is the limit (and for some people, it actually is). In the finance fraternity, there are so many ups and downs, pressure of numbers.. you tend to eat, drink and sleep numbers. You will think about your friends, family as your assets and will try to match the balance sheet by analyzing what are your liabilities.  Being a woman in the field of finance isn't an easy task and that too a Chartered Accountant for one,  oops..it isn't a good combination at all. There are lot of difficulties specially when its topped by you being in an Marwari family and have a year old child. Sometimes I feel I am a superwoman… having 8 hands – doing multi-tasking like no one else.

 But then I pause and think, is it really worth? Why am I supposed to do everything, why should I live up to the image of being a superwoman. Why am I ignoring myself trying to “impress one.. impress all”. the problem is with me as well as with the society. Our society feels that since you are a woman, it’s your birth “duty” to take care of your husband, your family, your children, your household stuff. If you are working, that’s YOUR problem!! You cannot tend to shy away from your “birth duty” for what you wish to do. If you are working or following your passion, you can do that, PROVIDED it doesn’t collide with your “birth duty”.

Sometimes I wonder whether I took a wrong decision of not taking a break in my career when my child was born. Then one day I met a lady colleague in an elevator in my office and she said.. “just hang on. the next two years are going to be a pain, but if you hang on, everything’s gonna be fine and you will never regret”. That’s what I have been trying to do since then. I feel breaking down on some days while on the other, I feel as if…yes it’s going to pass soon. Right now I am kind of  single mother (hopefully for a brief period of 6 months), since my husband is travelling for work. And one thing I have realized is that what all a woman has to face, if she is a single mom for life!! Currently, I think I am leading a life of a robot. Get up at 6, get the house cleaned and food prepared, tend to the kid, pack all the lunch boxes, get the kid and self ready, drop off the kid to the day care and reach office by 9 am (max). and its hell for me, specially on days when I have calls in the morning (shudder). Leave office at 630 in the evening , pick up the kid, play with her for some time, then feed her and (if I am lucky, she will go to sleep at 8 pm). Then get the dinner ready, have it and then around 10 pm get back to the laptop!!! How am I doing this – I don’t know.. I seriously DON’T KNOW!! Am I sane – I don’t think so.

I wish our society was a bit more collaborative and would change basis the time. when a woman works so as to take care of the household financials along-with the husband, why can’t a man help the same woman to take care of the household chores!! Well, time is changing. Yes, indeed it is. But at what pace. How many men do you know who make a contribution in the household stuff without calling it “help”! does a woman ever tell a man that “I am helping you by earning!!” aah… I don’t think so.

One needs to have a supportive husband in order to lead a successful woman's life...and touche wood i have one :)

When a girl is seeking alliance, strangely she is asked a question that what will you choose if you have to choose between your career and your family…huh.. what a question!! Has anyone thought of asking this question to a man!!! Why is working considered to be a hobby for a woman and a necessity for a man!! I fail to understand!! Does anyone have an answer!! Please enlighten me!