This Year I Wish People To Be More Considerate Towards Mothers

New Year 2018 has started, and one recent normal looking happening made me vision about one thing that I want to see improved this year. Parenting is achieving horizons of both the poles. Mothers, working, managing family and offices, are trying their best to prove themselves as a balance maker. One pole is family where you need mammoth of patience and sweet talks to manage scenes. The other pole, work, needs being strict with deadlines, commitments and your own goals. As a working mother, I expect some help from people around me as sometimes my two hands seem not sufficient to carry on with my double roles. And when people fail me, I feel we still are far behind in understanding words compassion and consideration.

I take my son with me to office as my office also provides a daycare for women employees. Every other day, my boy sleeps during the bus ride and when office bus finally reaches the destination, I need to carry three heavy things. My 3-year-old son, his diaper bag and my office-laptop bag. So every day, one of my good friends, Saumya, carries one bag, and I carry my son and the other bag. Saumya opens office door for me and lets me enter the building. Some unusual days, office guard notices me coming and he comes forward to open the door for me. Sadly, during some strange days, when Saumya doesn't come, I find it difficult to manage till the office cafeteria. Both my hands get occupied in carrying both the bags and my son. Thus, I struggle those days and somehow manage to be inside the cafeteria.
However, when a complete stranger offers help with asking to take a bag, I feel better, emotional and human. It sounds so simple, and it is. Sometimes it’s the small gestures that can make the biggest impact. Both my son and I feel thankful for the person and try to quickly move into the office. I know I can ask people to help me and carry one of the bags. But then what is the meaning of being considerate of others? This year, I wish people to be more helpful towards parents. I want co-passengers to be more considerate towards mothers with screaming kids in flights, trains and buses. So, people, I request you this :

This year, hold the door for strollers, pregnant woman and small children. Whenever you see a mother holding her child in arms and also the shopping bucket, offer help. In the queue, play peek a boo with the kid who is about to throw tantrums. Tell a mother, when you find her multitasking, that she is doing a good job. Compliment her child. Or let her know she is not alone, whether with words or with a smile. Offer struggling mothers help. Engage kids for some time and let parents take a breath of relief. Postpartum depression is one such thing that makes mothers very lonely and sentimental. So, visit new mothers or talk to them on phone. Offer her your company for a salon visit. Be with her for grocery shopping. And carry her child for some time until she is done with her food.

It takes a village to raise a child. But being members of this village, people should understand that raising these tiny souls is exhausting and mind-blowing. People who are parents already can clearly relate to the plot. Hence I expect them to be more supportive towards new parents anyway. However, those who are still to join the parent community, all I can say, that one day down the line you will definitely understand that opening the door for someone in need really makes a difference. Show some kindness for multitasking mothers. They may not say it loud but they need your help. It just takes a moment and you can turn around someone’s day.

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