Over the years, your support has made Women’s Web the leading resource for women in India. Now, it is our turn to ask, how can we make this even more useful for you? Please take our short 5 minute questionnaire – your feedback is important to us!
One week ago, we closed entries for the Mommy Guilt contest. Women’s Web is just a little over 2 months old now. Given how new we are, I was amazed at the fantastic response the contest received.
So, first – a big THANK YOU to every person who contributed (and to all those bloggers who supported us by putting the word out on their blogs). Like I said, we’d love to give every one of you a prize, if we could 🙂
The responses were varied – some were anguished, some humorous; some were objective (especially with the benefit of hindsight), some focused on helping other moms by sharing their own experiences while others derived satisfaction and relief by sharing. We (i.e. Nita Deb, who wrote the original piece here on Mommy Guilt and me) loved reading all of them.
As Nita tells me, "I was really moved by some, inspired by others. So much writing talent, so much wonderful sharing." Ok, now I’m going to stop and go on to what I’m sure all of you are waiting for – who won the contest?
So here are our 3 winners (in no particular order).
1. Starry, for her fantastic and useful post on Mommy guilt as a tool for change. "Much mommy guilt is caused by our unfulfilled need to invest in ourselves, whether for work, volunteering, personal friendships or our health and happiness. We often confuse ‘mother’ with martyr", says Starry.
2. The prolific Mad Momma who talks about how she deals with Mommy guilt. "… the moment I get the niggling feeling that I am doing something I might regret (with regard to the children) I rush to make amends …In short, if its something within my control, I don’t waste time feeling guilty, I do something about it," says the Mad Momma. There is a touching story too there, but I’m not going to say any more – go read it if you haven’t already!
3. Shruthi, with a point-by-point post on Towards a guilt-free mommyhood. Among the many points she makes, there is a rather unusual and intriguing one – "I feel guilty about putting Puttachi first all the time. I know it is natural, and I know that nobody carries any grudge against me for that. But yet, I feel guilty…I feel rather like a traitor to my other loved ones for feeling this way."
Starry, Mad Momma and Shruthi – Congratulations! We’ll be getting in touch with you soon for passing on the prizes.
Other notable entries included JLT’s Thou shall feel guilty, Cee Kay’s Pleading Not Guilty, Arundhati’s Mommy guilt or lack thereof, Simran’s Guilty or not, Namratha Prabhu’s Mommy guilt and Shankari’s A mother’s guilt gauntlet.
Like I said though, every entry was worth reading in it’s own way and offered a fresh perspective. (You can read many of them by going to the comments section here).
So, thank you all for participating and thank you to the many readers who didn’t send in entries, but nevertheless, cheered on the participants with their comments – you were the lovely, encouraging audience every writer needs, and I hope we’ll have you all with us for the many interesting such events we plan to keep having.
Founder & Chief Editor of Women's Web, Aparna believes in the power of ideas and conversations to create change. She has been writing since she was ten. In another life, she used to be read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
If you want to get back to work after a break, here’s the ultimate guide to return to work programs in India from tech, finance or health sectors - for women just like you!
Last week, I was having a conversation with a friend related to personal financial planning and she shared how she had had fleeting thoughts about joining work but she was apprehensive to take the plunge. She was unaware of return to work programs available in India.
She had taken a 3-year long career break due to child care and the disconnect from the job arena that she spoke about is something several women in the same situation will relate to.
More often than not, women take a break from their careers to devote time to their kids because we still do not have a strong eco-system in place that can support new mothers, even though things are gradually changing on this front.
A married woman has to wear a sari, sindoor, mangalsutra, bangles, anklets, and so much more. What do these ornaments have to do with my love, respect, and commitment to my husband?
They: Are you married? Me: Yes They: But You don’t look like it Me: (in my Mind) Why should I?
Why is being married not enough for a woman, and she needs to look married too? I am tired of such comments in the nearly four years of being married.
I believe that anything that is forced is not right. I must have a choice. I am a living human, not a puppet. And I am not stopping anyone by not following any tradition. You are free to do whatever you like to do. But do not force others. It’s depressing.