JobsForHer’s Open Letter to Mira Rajput: Why Every Mother has had to Eat her Words at Some Point or Another
- Schonali Rebello
- in
- Working Women
- |
- 15 Mar 2017
Disclaimer: In a recent interview, Mira Rajput commented on motherhood saying, "I wouldn’t want to spend one hour with Misha and then rush off to work. Why did I have her? She is not a puppy. ”
Dear Mira Rajput,
Can we start by saying, we get you girl. Because we’ve been there. All of us at JobsForHer were full-time mommas once upon a time. And we ALL thought, in those first few months of our babies that THIS was where we wanted to be FOREVER.
Boy, were we proved wrong.
Because once those new mommy hormones wore off, once they moved away from our milk and on to eating solids, once they became mobile and started crawling, walking, talking away from us, into their own personalities and lives and friends and interests… THEN we realized that THIS was not where we were meant to be forever. That maybe, just maybe, the time had come to start thinking about our other talents, our hard-earned, probably costly educations, our gathering of experiences in work and life and what ELSE we had to offer the world, because for a few hours a day (which will stretch into more and more as the months and years whizz by), our children did not NEED us like they used to.
And that day may come for you, too.
Or it may not.
| Read more in our Back to Work blogs
But as mothers who were once in your shoes, we wanted you to know that each and every one of us has had to eat her words at some point or another; very often, multiple times.
“My child will NEVER watch TV. S/he will only engage their mind in enlightening, educational, and organic activities.”
“My child will NEVER eat sweets or indulge in sugar/junk food/snacks/candy/etc.”
“I would NEVER drop my child.”
“I would NEVER lose my child.”
“I would NEVER leave my child in the care of another.”
“My child will NEVER hit another child.”
“My child will ALWAYS be kind and caring and share everything they have.”
….oh the list is endless.
And all of us can tell you that we have eaten those words like so much cold pie, over and over again.
| Read more about What Motherhood Taught Me that B-School Didn't
Because there is one thing for certain – that NOTHING is certain when it comes to raising children. Every single child is different and they don’t come with a roadmap, so it definitely takes those first few months, in the beginning, to spend quality bonding time with them and learn their personalities so that you can create your own map, together, to chart the uncertainties of life together. Every mother has taken that time, has spent that time, has enjoyed that time, and many have come out of that time and chosen to return to work.
And we’re helping them do that; proudly, happily, and encouragingly. Like all women should be to each other.
|SIGN UP with JobsForHer TODAY to begin that walk back to the career you once enjoyed...
And that brings us to your thoughts on feminazis and feminism; girlfriend, a little schooling required there. Most importantly, the origin of the word feminazi and it's life story playing out.
The term feminazi was first coined by an economics professor friend of American politically conservative (Republican) radio talk-show host, Rush Limbaugh, who went on to popularize it throughout the 90’s.
It was invented to put women who fought for women’s equal rights in politics, economics, society, religion and general everyday existence – DOWN.
"How is a movement promoting equality of all people, regardless of gender, even remotely similar to a dictatorial force that imprisoned and killed millions for their race and ancestry?"* Feminism and nazism are diametric opposites and can never meld.
Rush Limbaugh, by the by, is also known for the statement "Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.”
And this brings us to word number two - feminism. The word is used by women to reclaim their sense of control and power over their own thoughts, actions, and opinions. It is used by men and women to show solidarity with likeminded women everywhere.
Feminism still means the same thing it always did.
“Feminism is a range of political movements, ideologies, and social movements that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve political, economic, personal, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment.”
And women are STILL fighting for these rights across the world. Along the way we’ve developed amazing allies in other women and men who understand and support the cause in every way they can, in the workplace and outside of it [e.g. the #HeForShe movement and its offspring]. These people should be praised for what they do, in spite of the odds against them.
| Read More about The Tribe of Women Bringing Every Indian Woman Back to Work
Like we said girl, we get you. But be careful what you say because it can and will come back to bite you one day.
Live a life that gives you pride and gives praise to others’ lives. Always.
Be the bigger person.
And when you're ready to re-enter the workplace, we're here to help you do that. In fact, spread the word to all your girlfriends that JobsForHer exists to bring women back to work after breaks in their careers for marriage, motherhood, elderly care or relocation, and that we CELEBRATE their breaks through what we do. We list over 2000 companies who do not care about the gaps on a woman's resume, they only care about the qualifications and experience that she brings to the table.
How's that for women building up other women?
Today, we're inviting YOU to step out of your comfort zone and sign up with JobsForHer to begin your journey to a new career, or back to the one that once defined another part of you that you maybe don't get to see anymore. That you think doesn't exist anymore. That you think is long forgotten. It's NOT. We know you can because each of us did. We came back from that break and we are kicking ass. You will too. Start HERE.
*Why I Don't Like the Word Feminazi - Dillon Shay McMurry, The Odyssey