Synopsis
Actress Kalki Koechlin discusses the pressures on working mothers to balance their careers and family life, advocating for shared parenting and awareness of gender roles. She shares her daily routine and emphasizes the importance of collaboration between parents to manage responsibilities effectively.Key Takeaways
- Shared parenting is crucial for balancing responsibilities.
- Women often face pressure to excel in both career and home.
- Daily routines can lead to burnout if not managed properly.
- Gender roles need reevaluation in contemporary households.
- Early intervention is vital to address learning gaps in children.
Mumbai, April 16 (NationPress) Actress Kalki Koechlin addressed the challenges that working mothers encounter while trying to balance their careers and family life, often juggling both professional responsibilities and household duties. She emphasized the necessity for shared parenting and increased awareness regarding gender roles at home.
When asked about how she balances her child's emotional needs with her career demands in a world that still expects women to manage everything, Kalki shared with IANS, “Yes, there’s immense pressure to do it all. Sometimes I can choose to be a supermom and handle everything—there are days when I do just that.”
The actress recounted her daily routine: waking up at 6 A.M., taking her dogs out for a walk, preparing her daughter’s favorite oats and almond pancakes for school, sending her off on the bus, and then getting on a flight to work all day.
“During my lunch break, I record a bedtime story for my husband to play for her at night. Then it’s back to work. In another short break—perhaps 20 minutes—I manage to fit in a yoga session, then back to work again. I finish up around 8 P.M., battle through Bombay traffic, get home by 10 P.M., unwind with a Netflix show, and finally hit the bed around midnight.”
Kalki cautioned, “If you attempt to do this every single day without a break, you're bound to burn out.”
“The reality is, this shouldn’t be the expectation—but it is. Many women who opt to work while raising children are also expected to be the CEOs of their homes—deciding on every meal, managing the household, and coordinating all activities.”
She further noted, “There have been moments when I’m in another city, and my husband is at home, yet I’m the one calling the maid to instruct her on what to prepare. I tell him, ‘You decide what you want to eat!’ Even with help, the mental load remains—overseeing groceries, diapers, ensuring the fridge is stocked—all while working outside the home.”
The actress stressed the significance of shared parenting.
“It’s just too overwhelming. This is why concepts like sharing responsibilities are crucial. Both parents must share these duties, and we need more education about gender disparities at home.”
For those unaware, Kalki welcomed her daughter, Sappho, in February 2020.
Kalki has been associated with P&G Shiksha, which recently celebrated 20 years. She began her involvement in 2015, focusing on constructing schools across the nation.
“We traveled to Delhi to support that initiative, and I even laid one of the first bricks for a school. At that time, they prioritized infrastructure—not just classrooms, but also addressing issues like bathrooms that caused many girls to drop out of school.”
“Initially, they were impacting 4 lakh children, and now, in less than a decade, they have reached over 50 lakh children.”
Kalki also highlighted the learning gap issue, underscoring the importance of early intervention to assist children in catching up and thriving.
