A mother is inarguably one of the most beautiful creations of God. The role of a mother cannot be confined to labels such as working mother, full-time mother, or work-from-home mother. In reality, every mother is a full-time mother, and while their situations may differ, their child is always their top priority.
Mothers should be celebrated every year, beyond the special day set aside each year to express gratitude to God for their blessing.
The evolving era to focus on the needs of mothers
When we think of a mother, every generation has a different nostalgia related to the word. Starting with our grandparents, the silent generation, the mother was the lady of the house, whom everyone respected to the core. She was generally sitting by the stove, either cooking or taking care of other household chores. Then came the Gen X, who will always recall their mother as a strong boss lady, head of the house, and the best cook but also more worldly. They go to watch movies in the theatres with their husbands a regular feature of their lives impossible for previous generations.
Now the new mothers are millennials or from Gen Z for whom the most content is created. Mothers, over the years, though generally involved in nurturing roles, but along with it, they also discovered self-love, their basic rights, right to education, etc. While a diminutive percentage had their careers, most mothers remained at home while we their children were growing up.
New-age mothers have learnt lessons from the experiences of their mothers. They do better at voicing their opinions, and desires. Today’s mothers are multifaceted, often balancing careers, education, personal aspirations, and family life. They are CEOs, designers, entrepreneurs, teachers, engineers, doctors, etc. making choices and leaving behind impressions that are much more impactful for the coming generation. They are not only career-oriented but also caregivers and the emotional backbone of their families, like all the previous generations.
What changed?
What the previous generation missed, or aspired to do, the next generation went ahead and did. The definition of motherhood has changed over time, but what remained the same is the motherly love and care of a woman that she never compromises on. No matter in which part of the world, a mother is, one part of her heart will always be with her child. Hence, mothers evolved over time but motherhood, in essence, remained the same.
Understanding the needs of mothers
Addressing the needs of both generations and understanding each other’s concerns and experiences can play an important role in making the bond stronger and more reliable. To bridge the generation gap, we can adopt the following strategies –
- Spending quality time: It includes active listening by encouraging open dialogue where both feel heard without judgment. This involves listening truly with empathy to understand each other’s perspectives and challenges.
- Learning together: Both generations have had their fair share of learnings and experiences, while children can educate their mothers about new technologies and trends, they can learn a lot of life hacks from their mothers. These cross-generational learnings are better to be learned from each other rather than only surfing on YouTube and ending with incomplete knowledge.
- Tailored modes of communication: Due to different experiences and evolved times, while one generation is more expressive than the other, they also prefer different modes of communication. While some may prefer face-to-face interactions, others might lean towards digital communication.
- Sharing common hobbies: Learn the lost art forms and outdoor games from your mothers, and teach them your favorite mobile games. The crochet art that has been trending today was once your mother’s great hobby, why not learn it from her? Encourage her to dedicate more time to her hobbies and ask her to share her memories. This will help her re-create what she misses about her childhood or youth that she is unable to do anymore.
- Cooking Together: Mother knows all your favorite dishes, but does the family knows any of her favorite foods? Let us role reverse and try to know her favorite dish, and cook it for her to express love and recognition for her hard work.
Mother’s Guilt Treat
Everyone in the family needs to acknowledge and respect a woman’s space and her significant role within the family. However, the mother must assert her rights, secure her place at the decision-making table, and prioritize her physical and mental well-being.
Whether she is a stay-at-home mom or a working mother, both experience mother’s guilt despite their best efforts. They need to change the narrative from guilt to positive affirmations about motherhood. Here are a few ways in which mothers can prioritize self-care and overcome feelings of guilt –
- Self-compassion: Mothers need to understand that no one is perfect, it is okay to make mistakes. Be kind to yourself and recognize that you are doing your best and do not need to prove anything to anyone. Mothers need to take care of their physical health, balanced diet, and nutritional requirements, and prioritize their well-being as much as they care for their kids.
- Communicate your needs: Do not hesitate to express your feelings with your family. It is better to convey your thoughts than to resent them later in life and live with regret and harsh feelings. Build a network of friends, family, and a community of mothers who understand what you are going through and can offer assistance. You can also seek professional help when needed, as mental health is as important as physical health.
- Ask for help: Sharing responsibilities can lighten your load. Hire help, and delegate less important tasks both at home and at work. This will save you time and help you meet the deadlines faster.
- Unlearn before you learn: Ages of social conditioning have molded women such that no matter what they could not let go of their mother’s guilt the moment they try to think about anything else but their children and family duties. Mothers need to unlearn it and not pass it on to the next generations. They need to schedule time for self-care and relaxation to recharge their batteries. They need to maintain their identity that is beyond motherhood by pursuing interests and hobbies that make them happy.
Happy mothers are the best
Let us celebrate mothers by truly understanding and responding to their needs. It is about creating an environment where they can thrive, feel supported, and have their contributions valued. Let’s get one thing clear – only happy mothers are the best ones, and it is our responsibility to put a smile to their faces whenever we can.
