Childcare is Not Cakewalk

Jobs are often stressful and stifling. But most of us cling to those soul-killer daily grinds, for the salaries, which enable us to pay bills. We get to hop jobs, if we want.

But what about childcare job? And those who work for it?

Let me share the truth.

Its honorary work. Accountability is high. There is no room for mistakes. You have to deal with range of unexpected emotions. There are no breaks. At least not when you desire it. You got to jump to action as you see the kid sitting in soiled diaper, or his fingers stuck to the drawer, or she is nagging. You have to chase and coax to make her eat.

It gets on your nerves.

You have to develop fast-responder mindset, always prepared to rescue them. Accidents are too often. The knee-scraping, falling from bed, hanging upside down from the swing, hitting head on the dining table for the 30th time. You must be the epitome of agility.

The house is always pig sty. You got to clean after them or the wheel of those toy cars can end up sending you to the floor.

Chaos everywhere.

You are cooking with water, oil, spices, dodging fire, steam, surrounded with knives, forks. They find this space ideal to play.

You try to type something. They are curious to check what the plug, wire, keyboard, mouse does. While doing a brainy work, having to save the draft, and to swat them away, is one of the most-irritating thing, I swear.

Finally, you get some time to study when they retire for the day. Like a stealthy thief, you work with earphone on, in dim light.

If there are more than one kid, you have to act as a referee, or the sparring will turn to bloody show. They have to play the same toy in a pile of thousands. I have seen enough hair-pulling, teeth marks, and shoving, to take it for granted.

Your senses are always on high alert. The chatter, nagging, shouts trigger you, raising your blood pressure. It makes you yell and throb with anger. I have felt several bouts of headaches in recent times. My tongue and vocal cords are strained. Its frustrating.

You cant quit the job! Not only that, you have to do the job very very well, or all fingers will point at you.

Not all of us have the luxury of grandmothers, nannies, maids. We are hands-on mothers and exhausted we may be, but we got to prioritize the kids.

Fellow-mothers, I appreciate your contributions. I am in the same boat. I am highly-educated and accomplished, but to create a family with healthy, emotionally-balanced kids, I have let my career be a backup, not my priority.

If you don’t pursue a paid job, don’t entertain guilt for not adding to family income. You are doing a critical job. There are already enough on your platter. Don’t ask for more. Your body and mind have a tolerance capacity.

If your health is hijacked in the effort to stretch yourself beyond its elasticity, your kids will suffer, for whose bright future, you are pushing yourself hard. Shaping the kids well, in their formative years, is very important.

There were times, when a village helped with child- raising task. Now we are on our own, away from support groups.

Don’t let anybody bully you that its cakewalk. No, its not. You are protecting and leading vulnerable children towards awareness and independency.

Long journey ahead. Take care of yourself first. Be very proud of yourself, fellow-mothers!!

I sure am, of myself, as I lead two lambs of mine.