Changing diapers isn’t just the mum’s job

The meaning of motherhood has undeniably changed over the years. In the past, a mother’s typical day would revolve around her children and household chores. A mother would be expected to be at the beck and call of her husband and children, catering to every little need. I remember being surprised on the days I would return home from school and not find my mother there. However, now, the entire definition of motherhood has changed. Mothers no longer have to compromise their wants, dreams and ambitions for their children. It is not uncommon to find working mothers perfecting the balancing act between the difficult demands of their jobs and still finding time to play an important role in their children’s lives. Home-makers, too, believe in taking out time for themselves.

Mothers today expect fathers to play a significant role in the bringing up of their children. It’s not considered a big deal anymore if one sees a father changing a diaper, attending a parent-teacher meeting, cooking and packing a lunchbox or helping their children with homework. Women are ambitious and contributing to the household income, so they expect their husbands to do their share of the work at home, too. With the changing dynamics of families came changes in the workforce. These days, employers recognise the need for longer maternity leaves and flexible working hours for mothers in their workforce. There are a number of companies, which allow women to work from home too. These factors encourage women who want to get back to work after they have had a baby. It’s a far cry from the jobs in the past, where many women could not get back to work after delivery because they didn’t have the flexibility to do so. From Ms Vidhi Sharma Part-time tutor at University of Wollongong in Dubai