Every day a Mother’s Day during lockdown
As a sign of gratitude, children often take up household chores on Mother’s Day or their mums’ birthdays, so that mothers can let their hair down a little. Little did we know that during the lockdown, this would turn into a regular affair! With schools, colleges and workplaces shut, mothers are making sure to teach their children a lesson in domestic partnership.
“Earlier, I used to avoid household work, saying I’m tired from all the stress at the office. But now that I am home, my mother leaves no stone unturned in making me work. Unko lagta hai beta ghar pe baitha hua hai, chalo kaam karvate hai. Even if I am in a meeting, my mum gives me something to do, saying, ‘Tu kaunsa Modiji se baat kar raha hai?’” rues Faridabad resident Anirudh Dhillion. For Ritu Sharma. too, the lockdown is the best time to make her “lazy children” work. “I reward them with their favourite dishes once in a while. Some motivation is needed,” says the Noida resident.
Handling an entire household is tiring, so for some mothers, delegating duties is their way of taking a break. “If a mother is feeling fatigued, she should be given a sense of confidence that there are a set of people she can depend on,” says Kamna Chhibber, clinical psychologist, who feels that it’s not just about making someone do a chore, but more about showing that you care. “My children automatically get involved in chores when I take the day off,” says Sonal Narang, a pleased mother from Delhi.