An educated mom

Sneha had three children, a 10-year-old son and twin girls aged 6. She lived in a small town, and handled her home and kids well. Her husband usually travelled abroad for work, for several months.

Sneha was used to managing things all alone. Though now she lived in a small town, but she was highly educated and used to work in a big city, before the birth of her twins.

With three children to look after, she thought of taking a break from work and focused on her children.

Sneha’s children were well behaved, obedient and did well at school.

Her life was going well. She was so happily occupied in raising her kids right, that the thought of going back to work never crossed her mind.

Since her son was in his tweens, she could feel the change in his behaviour and expressions. She knew that time was near when she had to stop treating him like a kid and try to understand him, and give him required freedom and responsibility.

Of the many good qualities inculcated by Sneha in her children, reading was one of them.

One day, her son was reading an article on education, wherein it was all about knowing the importance of education, the levels of education etc. He was aware that his mother was a medical professional, who used to work earlier, but now was totally into managing her home and family.

He casually asked his mom, “Mom, if you were to be a home maker, then why did you do a professional degree. I mean, you could have just done the basic level of education.”

She was stunned, surrounded by a plethora of emotions.

She didn’t know what to say, tears rolled down her eyes and she left the room, without saying a word.

This was the first time, in so many years, she thought about herself, what she was doing in life, what was her plan initially, how her children looked at her, what they thought of her, whether there was something wrong in being there for children all the time, whether she should have gone back to work, leaving the kids with some outside support, and many other things.

Numerous emotions were running through her mind. She was annoyed, angry, sad, unsure of her decision to leave her work completely.

After an hour, she was sure of what she had to say to her son.

She gathered herself up, and went to her children.

She didn’t scold her son for asking such insensitive question, neither did she put any thought or pressure on her son saying that she left her career because of them.

Keeping her emotions aside, she said, “My children, you are the most precious gifts for me, and I love to take care of you. You fill my life with so much love and happiness, that I don’t feel that any work would give me such contentment, which I get when I am around you. That’s why I don’t go to work. It is my conscious choice.”

Further she added, “My son, it is your curiosity and innocence that you asked me why I studied so much to get a professional degree, when I had to be just at home. But my dear, we don’t study only to do some job/ work, but we study for self-development, self-independence, and to become wiser, so that we can take better and thoughtful decisions in our lives. Also, higher education has given me confidence, a voice, satisfaction in life.”

Sneha explained, “Education is imperative, no matter what you do, it never gets wasted, and you my babies are my priorities as of now, and I can return to work whenever I feel like. Higher education empowers me and gives me this opportunity to make a choice of what I want to do in my life.”

Her son said, “Mom I always thought that the reason to get educated is to do work/job.”

To this Sneha said, “It is very sad when people connect education to mere getting a job/ work. Education is much more. It adds value to one’s life. I am happy that we are discussing this today, because I want you to understand the real meaning of being educated. Being educated is to be more considerate, more grateful, humble, and become a good human being.”

“Education shapes your outlook towards life, liberates your mind, make you think rationally, and it is a tool, using which we can always bring a positive change in the society. Whether a person who is educated, works or not, doesn’t in any way depreciates the value of education.”

At last Sneha said, “For me it’s a feeling of pride that I can choose to work any day I want to, and this comes only because I am educated!”