Motherhood confers upon a woman the responsibility of raising a child. This process also changes how she is perceived in society and at her workplace. Significant social and personal adjustments are necessary to cope with such a situation. A working mother, especially one who has the good fortune to be able to balance her home and work, enjoys the stimulation that a job or career provides. She develops the ability to raise a useful member of society and at the same time gains financial independence. Along with motherhood, work adds to the completeness of being a woman.
Support is essential for a woman who is working on rebuilding her career after a break. This is much easier said than done, as it isn’t always easy to give up the time and attention you give to your family, your spouse to pursue your career goals, especially if you are a parent to a young child. But, with the right amount of love and support from your better half, your journey will be a smooth sail.
Our Father’s day Webinar, (link to webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv8KEoDGvEI ) featured Saranya Iyer, an Inside Sales manager, who quit her career to embrace motherhood, and her wonderful husband Suresh who has helped her reignite her career after the break. Suresh Iyer indeed is a champion dad, who works as a product manager with Reliance Jio and has a keen interest in music and fitness to list a few essential tips to support your spouse’s career and work-related goals.
Being a Team Player
When you got married you agreed to stand by one another richer or poorer, no matter what the circumstance. One way you can stand by your vows and support your spouse’s career is by being a team player, even when times are tough.
As a co-parent, you can pitch in to help with the child, be it helping to pick the child up from daycare or dropping them at school, or even helping them with their homework.
Conventionally fathers are not that involved in a kid’s life but Suresh as a father makes it a point to be involved in her upbringing and bonding with Meera.
For example in the case of Saranya and Suresh Iyer, Suresh pitched in to keep their daughter Meera engaged in the mornings by taking her for jogs or walks, while Saranya took care of the household chores.
“It’s important to have a support system for any parent or caregiver.” - Saranya Iyer
“Conventionally fathers are not that involved in a kid's life but as a father, I make it a point to be involved in her upbringing and bond with her.” - Suresh on being a hands-on Father.
Be a Sounding Board and Give Pep Talks
There are many aspects of your partner’s work life that they may want to talk about. New positions they’d like to take on, branching out into a new field, taking on more responsibilities, or even just having a creative session to get ideas flowing.
These are all things that they may want to speak with you about. Even if you can’t entirely relate to the topic at hand, it is still encouraging for your partner to know you are willing to listen.
Whether you are offering your ear as a sounding board or participating in a brainstorming session to help your partner get excited about their work project, your partner will appreciate having you there to listen to their thoughts, dreams, and ideas.
“I had a lot of apprehension and anxiety when I started work, internal meltdown.
He has been a true pillar of support, he handled it well by not only giving moral support but also by being physically present when needed.”- Saranya, on how her husband supports her.
Your partner is not always going to be able to keep a positive mindset about their work and career. One way you can support your spouse’s career is by giving them some pep talk.
Remind them of all the wonderful reasons you have to believe in them. Remind them why they are great at their job and Also remind them that they are setting a wonderful example for the kids.
Positive encouragement can help your partner achieve their goals. Your support will encourage your spouse to push harder, be more creative, and muscle through the rough patches.
Be Your Spouse’s Cheerleader and be there when they need you
Work can be stressful, so your partner must have someone enthusiastic about their work life.
This means giving them extra support when they are feeling tired, reminding them of all the excellent qualities that make them perfect for the position, and also validating their efforts as a parent.
“You need to juggle work, family life, and kids. You have to find time for these things at any point in time. When work gets overwhelming that Saranya pitches in so it’s all about a balance and finding time for your priority.”- Suresh Iyer on balancing work and family.
Your spouse is more likely to succeed at whatever they are trying to accomplish when they know that their partner is right behind them, supporting their decisions and routing for their success.
Whether your spouse is taking a new job opportunity or simply trying to advance their position, they are going to need your undying support.
Talk About the style of parenting
You cannot know the best way to support your spouse if you don’t know what their ultimate goals are. as a parent and as a professional. Knowing what each other’s plans are will help strengthen your family and help you understand where your spouse is coming from regarding their career and being a parent.
“Establishing the core value system is the key to parenthood”- Saranya
If your partner is ever feeling down as a parent, or mom guilt is taking over, get them talking about it
Whether your partner is pursuing a new job, speaking openly about their goals and dreams will help them refocus and get excited about what life will be like after they have settled into their new career.
Supporting your spouse is how you show them that you love and care for them, so make sure you do it whole-souled and see your partner grow and flourish as a parent and a professional. This will also lead to your kid growing up into an independent individual with a balanced outlook toward work, life, and family.
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