Everything I do

Dear Chitra,

Im touched by the story, well written as only u can.I amvery poor at writing stories, and wish i could learn from u Chitra.

You know, the same thing has happened in my neighbourhood a few days back.Working couples, two small daughters 6 and 4, the mother has resigned as the kids were left in cretches after school, and sometimes the kids are sick, and the parents have to be called, and it is so choatic really.And uncannily,u wrote this piece.

This is the fact all around.K ids come second tio career.Why have kids in the first place if u dont have the time for them?

Regards.kamal

Nicely potrayed scene in a day to day life, the anguish, the sadness from the child's perspective, mind occupying thoughts throughout our day...

quality time is the best solution and forgo all the wants....this motto is brought out by this story,
Well done AC...

sriniketan

Dear AC,

That was a good topic....the same thing happened in my life abt 15 years ago. I started working part time and then to dance classes at 2 in the afternoon , so that i will be back in time for my daughter who was 5 that time. Then the company where i was working grew and they offered me a full time job. My kindly neighbors who were spinsters and who were anyway having my daughter most of the time volunteered to keep her. I thought everything was working fine. But like this Anju, my little one ,one fine day asked me " Is that money u get so important than me" I wonder where she got this at that age.....but she was always mature for her age...and that was it, i quit , having worked not even a month! No one would believe this and accept also. But i decided then and there i cant carry on and miss my daughter!
But what you mentioned happened in my life and of course i dont regret....since i could also continue with my first love, that is dancing and at my own pace! Of course hubby did feel now and then that i could have worked....but i made it clear that i am needed at home physically and mentally also many times and i will not be able to hold so many jobs at one time and not lose my mind! At the end i feel satisfied , though i lost on a good job and further career developments! I can see that we are emotionally bonded well as a family and so no regrets!

But like Kamla has pointed out many would like to quit and stay at home , but circumstances don't allow....such people should make it a point to be with their children whenever and how often they can!
Anyway good post and will make many think!

Originally Posted by Devika Menon

Dear Ac,

Wonderful topic as expected from you . Very debatable too!
I guess its imperative to work if you fall in the category of people who need both the parents working to meet the minimum subsistance.
I also understand that no body can take care of kids like the parents. A very difficult choice for some parents I guess where its a question of being caught between the devil and the deep sea!
Youve narrated everything very well.Excellent write up AC. loved it!!

Love,
Devika

Dear Devika
Its a very tough choice.. especially when some women are so talented and capable.. I dont if you read Sudha's reply above.. but she's a very talented dancer and I can only begin to imagine how she felt having had to compromise for family.. but again as she ends saying its worth it over all..

Originally Posted by Kamalji

Dear Chitra,

Im touched by the story, well written as only u can.I amvery poor at writing stories, and wish i could learn from u Chitra.

You know, the same thing has happened in my neighbourhood a few days back.Working couples, two small daughters 6 and 4, the mother has resigned as the kids were left in cretches after school, and sometimes the kids are sick, and the parents have to be called, and it is so choatic really.And uncannily,u wrote this piece.

This is the fact all around.K ids come second tio career.Why have kids in the first place if u dont have the time for them?

Regards.kamal

Dear Kamal
I do not for a moment believe your first line.. but I am going to take complete credit and keep that feather in my CAP!

The first time I tried this style of writing, like story to convey my point, was my latest blog, which happened to be a true story about my wedding eve 24 yrs back.. The comments I got for it has enabled me to become conceited, arrogant and fool hardy enough to try this again here.. Now your comment, though totally false, has served to increase my conceited view of myself as a great writer that I am contemplating... (?)

I wrote this piece because I feel dearly for children.. Though my story portrays a working mom, it doesnt have to be always working mom.. I do not work outside the home but I have tooo many demands on my time.. I have now learnt to say NO to certain requests.. and as you guessed it , I have become unpopular..Family time is a priority.. so much if we get a phone call while we are having dinner or our prayers, we let it goto the machine so we can have our food and prayer in peace...

Originally Posted by Sriniketan

Nicely potrayed scene in a day to day life, the anguish, the sadness from the child's perspective, mind occupying thoughts throughout our day...

quality time is the best solution and forgo all the wants....this motto is brought out by this story,
Well done AC...

sriniketan

Dear Bhargavi
I wrote bec even as a housewife I have too many demands on my time...Thanks for stepping in:)

Originally Posted by sudhavnarasimhan

Dear AC,

That was a good topic....the same thing happened in my life abt 15 years ago. I started working part time and then to dance classes at 2 in the afternoon , so that i will be back in time for my daughter who was 5 that time. Then the company where i was working grew and they offered me a full time job. My kindly neighbors who were spinsters and who were anyway having my daughter most of the time volunteered to keep her. I thought everything was working fine. But like this Anju, my little one ,one fine day asked me " Is that money u get so important than me" I wonder where she got this at that age.....but she was always mature for her age...and that was it, i quit , having worked not even a month! No one would believe this and accept also. But i decided then and there i cant carry on and miss my daughter!
But what you mentioned happened in my life and of course i dont regret....since i could also continue with my first love, that is dancing and at my own pace! Of course hubby did feel now and then that i could have worked....but i made it clear that i am needed at home physically and mentally also many times and i will not be able to hold so many jobs at one time and not lose my mind! At the end i feel satisfied , though i lost on a good job and further career developments! I can see that we are emotionally bonded well as a family and so no regrets!

But like Kamla has pointed out many would like to quit and stay at home , but circumstances don't allow....such people should make it a point to be with their children whenever and how often they can!
Anyway good post and will make many think!

Dear Sudha
I can only imagine the anguish you would have felt making the very tough choice.. but here's to your success as amother and accomplishing more with family as a result

Dear AC,

Thanks for appreciating my views and taking it in the right sense !

As you rightly said, even being a housewife/homemaker we do have lots of responsibilites and jobs to attend to. It is like a 24hr office here.

Moreover, going to work or staying at home is purely one's choice that depends on the individual's mind set/priorities and family situtation.

Regards
Krithika

Originally Posted by anandchitra

Dear young friend Krithika
I am more than pleased and delighted you shared your views.. thats exactly why I write so I get to read different points of view.. Please do not hesitate to do so.. I found your feedback very interesting.. also I liked why you thought father could not have resigned?? Yes.. you are right. Either could have done so and one does not have to forego a career just for the time to spend.. these days with every conceivable gadget in sight its not an impossible task at all to balance.. and I do admire women and men who do just that:)

Hi ...The dilemma of working parents are portrayed well. But quitiing the job and putting off the promotion is not the solution.. how we understand the psychology of our child. however busy the couple in the story is,they do find time to entertain their guests. At the same time child gets the 'taken for granted ' treatment.The child wont feel bad if she had already told in the morning that they have guests in the evening and sho should also do what she can do to entertain the guest. as a working mom i also have faced such problems often. But i cant think of quitting the job, so practising the balancing act. But ur style of narration is SUPERB mam......

My dear anandchitra,
Such a beautiful story with a great message not only for young parents,but for all of us.In our hurry to earn,in our desire to keep a fantastic looking HOUSE ,in our eagerness to be pleasing to the social circle friends we forget our dear and near and why oh why?we forget ourselves and our need to love and be loved.to care and to be cared also.
Great writing.Enjoyed it.
mithila kannan