Being a part of the Blogchatter A to Z challenge has been an incredible experience. There are quite a few realizations and learnings I’ve had when I look back now.

• I didn’t want to participate – I had enough challenges as it is. With a toddler and no time for me, how could I commit to a post a day right?
  • Wrong. If you are also in a situation where you have little or no time for self, stop, reflect and step back. It’s rightly said: sometimes taking a step back helps you take two forward.
• I doubted myself – I knew I wanted to finish this challenge. But I am also a realist. And every single day that I lost to personal challenges, unable to write made me rethink and doubt myself.
  • Every time you doubt yourself, instead of asking yourself “What if I cant”, tell yourself “What If I can”. Along with the doubts came the perseverance to finish what I had started. 
• Real-Life challenges – First week into the challenge, my son came down with an ugly case of a stomach infection. All my time, energy and focus shifted to him. Exhausting days and sleepless nights. I lost those a week.
  • But I realized how powerful determination can be. If you really want to, you can.
• Support System – Thanks to the Blogchatter team who kept us motivated. My husband who took over the parenting duties the minute he returned from work, so I could write. My friends who kept pushing me gave constructive feedback and the community which showered so much love on my blog.

It was not just 30 days of the month. It was not just 26 letters. It was a journey of rediscovering myself and my belief in myself.

A to Z gave me a platform. A to Z gave me an excuse. A to Z gave me a reason. A to Z gave me the opportunity. To do something that I had been wanting to do for a very long time, to take up writing again, to start expressing my thoughts again, to rely on the power of words once again.

Thanks Blog Chatter.

The post Reflections – A to Z Challenge appeared first on Raising Rehaan.

I remember writing this letter to myself sometime last year. Motherhood is a 24/7, exhilarating yet exhausting job. Bottle and Breastfeedings, diaper change, laundry, cooking, organizing activities for the child, home schooling and later school homework. Sometime during this time, life passes you by. Mommyhood is a never-ending responsibility. One that consumes all your time and energy. While initially, the child is totally dependent on the mother and his only solace in this big bright world, being completely immersed in the role is inevitable.

When the celebration of the arrival of the new baby fades away, when the excitement of the latest addition becomes old news, when the responsibilities of motherhood take over, is when the tug of war starts. The war between a woman and a mother.

We look in the mirror yet we cant find ourselves.

WHY?

Often mothers lose themselves in the world of motherhood. Our priorities move from ourselves to the baby long after the baby turns into a toddler and then a young child. We immerse ourselves so deep into looking after and caring for the baby that we end up neglecting ourselves. We are often so busy taking care of everyone else that we neglect to take care of ourselves. And if we fail to take care of ourselves, how can we take care of our children?

Many mothers find themselves at this crossroad where they are torn between taking out time for self vs spending time with the baby. And if somehow they do manage to grab some time out for themselves, they are ridden by the guilt of having prioritized themselves over their children. They demonstrate to the kids that they are low on their own list of priorities.

Mommies! STOP! BREATHE! RELAX! It doesn’t have to be a tug of war! Small things make a huge difference.

• Hand over the baby for a few hours. Your baby is loved just the same by your husband and family as you.
• When they offer help, grab it!
• Stop multi-tasking as if your life depends on it.
• Learn to say no
• Do not judge yourself
• Go for a walk
• Exercise
• Meditate
• Go to a coffee shop – even if you are not a coffee drinker
• Go on a date night with hubby
• Meet friends
• Listen to music
• Go for a movie
• Read a book
• Sleep
• Take out time for that hobby you loved
• Go for a spa
• Oil your hair
• Remember who YOU are.

Remember you cannot pour from an empty vessel. Take care of yourself. Start giving yourself time. Spend time rediscovering the most important person in your life – YOU.

The post Why YOU Matters appeared first on Raising Rehaan.

Mr. Einstein explained a very crucial lesson of life in the simplest of words. However, it is one of the hardest things to achieve in this day and era.

Before we delve into deeper aspects of this very simple life fundamental, let me get this question out-of-the-way. What is Balance?

Of all the definitions I’ve read of the term, the one that most resonated with my perception was “a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.”

Let’s face it. Life can be overwhelming at times and possesses a special knack for throwing even the toughest, the strongest of us off-balance. It’s in those moments we realise how much we take for granted.
From an ambitious, corporate minion to an over-exhausted mother, it’s been quite a journey for me too. From spending hours working on complex reports and Marimekkos, to spending sleepless nights as a new mommy, there have been plenty of times when I wanted to give up. However, that’s not always a choice that we have.

During my stint in the corporate world, I remember (with regret now) the countless hours I spent post work glued to my workstation. Home had become a bed and breakfast. Family had become mere acquaintances. Such was the fiery ambition in me to rise the ranks (which I did too). It took a couple of health setbacks to make me realise the more important things in life. All because I lacked the much talked about “work-life balance”.

Is a setback necessary for an epiphany to happen? Of course not.

So what kind of Balancing Act am referring to?

It is the Equilibrium, the state when one doesn’t feel torn or pushed or cornered in one direction. It is when one is able to devote as much energy, time or attention as is required without neglecting the other aspects of life.
The golden word is Balance. Something you have to find for yourself. Something even Google can’t help you with.

Set your priorities. The time you spent today is not going to come back. Ask yourself if it was well-spent. Know when to say No. You don’t have to take all the responsibilities. Assess your plate. Don’t let your responsibilities weigh you down. Take breaks. Be it professional or personal, time away from routine is healthy. Me-time and time spent rejuvenating is not a waste. It is, in fact, an investment into a happier tomorrow. A happy mind makes a happy home. Know when to stop. Its often the most difficult yet rewarding step.

As Peter Latham once said “Fortunate, indeed, is the man who takes exactly the right measure of himself and holds a just balance between what he can acquire and what he can use.”

Balance = Equilibrium = Stability = Strength.

The post B is for Balance appeared first on Raising Rehaan.

There was a time I loved writing. Penning down my thoughts – either through real-life incidents or fictional tales was how I expressed myself. Over the years, however, I’ve lost that part of me. Caught up in the corporate rat race and then the maddening frenzy that surrounds a new mother’s life made me all but forget how important and essential writing was to me for my survival. The only writing I did during the last decade of my life were Business Reviews, mundane reports and short posts to document my motherhood. Today I am making a promise to myself to revive the writer in me.

There was a time I loved reading. Reading was an important part of my day. Now all I read are recipes for my toddler and Instagram posts. It’s time to change that too. Today I am making a promise to myself to read at least 12 books this year. (being realistic. I’d rather under-promise and over-deliver, even if it is to myself)

There was a time I loved to paint and sketch and doodle. Now all I paint are pretty pictures in my head about the time when I will do everything I loved once again. Today I promise that I will paint/sketch/draw/doodle at least one piece per month.

There was a time I used to love watching TV series. It’s been weeks since I switched on the TV and watched anything. Today I promise that I will reacquaint with the Idiot box. This one is purely for entertainment purpose!

Jokes apart.. there are a lot of things I want to promise to myself. But at the same time, I realize that my foremost responsibility as of now lies in taking care of the soul I have been blessed with. Looking after and raising my son to be a good and healthy human is a promise that takes precedence over everything else. So along with helping my son take baby steps towards who he’ll become, I also need to take those baby steps towards rediscovering myself. To keep the promises I’ve made to myself. It’s all about finding an equilibrium. A Balance.

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