2017!

Can’t believe it’s over! Time really does fly, doesn’t it? Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were planning to welcome it, making lists of all the things we wanted to achieve while still in it? Perhaps not as we find ourselves on the first day of 2018 today. Well, what can I say, 2017 passed by in a jiffy. And now the time is just right to take a stock on the year that it was, on the hits and the misses, the takeaways with some positive reaffirmations.

Looking back at 2017

2017 for the working mom!

I began 2017 as a clueless mom and truth be told, nothing much has changed as I stand on the cusp of 2017 and 2018. I’m still as clueless a mom today. But I did end up learning more about the challenges faced by working moms like me. Well, first-hand experiences will do that to you eventually. Yes, 2017 turned out to be more challenging to the working mom in me. Handling some demanding releases, clients and managers at work with a toddler has been anything but a cakewalk for me. I wish I could say that I did it all without flinching but who am I kidding? It was tough both mentally and physically.

I have also seen up close and personal how tough it is for working moms to climb up the ladder while handling things at home. You need to be so many things at the same time – brave, strong and ready to put your foot down in the face of bias, call that out even. 2017 has therefore reaffirmed my faith that we women need to have each other’s backs to move ahead and fight the skewed outlook of this society and the workplace. We need to take back the place which is rightfully ours, the position which men feel entitled to claim their own.

I feel more strongly than ever now to continue with my #FeministMonday posts to keep making the noise that we all need to for a society where women get their due. I probably won’t be able to change much but I’d still like to believe that every bit counts. By the way, did I tell you how #FeministMondays posts have now run for over a year on the blog with a steadily growing readership? So, yay for that, right?

This working mom fought through the odds in 2017, crying some and winning some!

2017 for the mom.

It has been challenging but easy too in some ways. The hugs sure make it worthwhile but not when she’s pouring water down her dress when I had just changed her!

In my second year as a mom, I have tried to keep away from all the ‘competition’ that seems to start from early on nowadays. Yes, believe me when I say that even 2-year-olds are not spared! But I want M to grow and learn at her own pace.

As a parent, I have spent another year without giving into the pressure of birthday parties with return gifts. I don’t know how long I can continue this but two is definitely better than none.

Another personal victory for me is that I still don’t drive every conversation with friends and colleagues towards M. It’s not easy because of course, she is the most special person in the world for me. But I don’t because not everyone is interested and why would they be? This is something I’m very particular about and so far I have been able to do that.

But most importantly, I have started to accept, albeit slowly, that I’m only human as a parent. So, letting M watch rhymes on the tablet is still not the end of the world when I want some respite. I have realised that I don’t have to be an ideal parent just a good enough parent for M to keep her happy and safe. Most importantly I think M is happy at her daycare and even at home, so must have done something right there?

I have started to accept myself as a flawed parent in 2017, a step in the right direction, I think.

2017 for me, just me.

I succeeded in holding on to my individuality this year amidst the million responsibilities that were tugging at me. It wasn’t easy because when you are pulled in all directions as a daughter, a wife and a mom, the easy way out is often to give up what you want for yourself. But I have managed to keep fighting and it makes me happy that even though it has been challenging, I have followed my heart, my passions and protected the person that I am. And I hope I can keep doing that in the future as well.

And just before the year ended I also happened to win the Best Blog in Karnataka for #IBA2017. So, that’s something as well.

So happy to announce that my blog, @RandomThoughtsNaba has won the best blog in Karnataka award in #IBA2017. 2017 sure is signing off in style. Thank you my friends and readers for your support:) And thank you @indiblogger for the award. #Blog #blogger

A post shared by Nabanita Dhar (@nabanitadhar) on Dec 30, 2017 at 2:28am PST

2017 has also been really good for the reader in me because I have managed to read about 45 books while I had only targetted 35. The Help, Purple Hibiscus, Spymistress, Mossad, Dear Zari: The Secret Lives of the Women of Afghanistan, The Danish Girl, Les Parisiennes are just some of the top reads of 2017 which will stay with me for a long time to come. It really makes me happy that in the middle of all that I have to do each day, my reading has still not suffered. Touchwood!

2017 for my family.

Though there were some health scares, anxious moments, I think 2017 still has been very kind to us. I hope and pray that my loved ones stay well in 2018 and forever. After all, what are we without our families?

Also, S and I have been able to find time for each other despite our crazy schedules and a naughty daughter in tow. Even after 11 longs years of being together, we still want to willingly get bored with each other. So, that’s another win, isn’t it?

Even though I say so myself, I think 2017 has been a fruitful year where I have been able to do a lot of things while navigating through my crazy calendar. Some of these were things I had been planning to tick off my list for a long time now. So that’s definitely positive. I hope to take these personal projects forward in 2018. How much I’ll succeed only time will tell, I suppose. Until then, I wish you a happy 2018!

Pic Credit | stoatphoto via Shutterstock