M&M – Mothers and Mobiles

Times have changed. From the time the husband earned, and the wife stayed at home to the time now when the husband earns and the wife earns too. But the wife still runs the house and manages children. So, how does she manage to run the house while still at work?

The simple answer to this intriguing question is also simple – through the mobile phone. For working women this gizmo empowers them to run their house and keep a check on their children while still at work. For full-time working mothers the issue of not being able to give enough time to their children oftentimes plagues their minds. Well the cell phone solves this problem partly if not totally.




As per my observation the maximum calls are made close to or after lunch time as this is generally the time when children return from school (see figure given above). (Data has been taken from ANU, AMTA; Impact of mobile phone on work life balance; March 2008.) Questions about their day at school, some test/exam or some competition follow. Children are then instructed to wash up and change and have proper lunch. Often the children’s nannies are also given a series of instructions over the phone.

An appealing topic of discussion between mothers and children on the phone is ‘homework’. The mom’s tone will become strict and she’ll enquire about whether the child has completed his homework or not. If he has done it he will receive a one-minute praise and the mother will then ask the poor child to learn some spellings or do some Math. Only then the child will receive the ticket to go out and have fun or watch some TV. It is torture for the child. I can say this because I have experienced it so many times in my childhood, when my mum called up from her office to check on me. She especially called up during exams and if some exam didn’t go well she first reprimanded for being careless and not preparing well and then consoled and motivated to do better for the next paper.

The calls again peak in the evenings (see figure given above). This is generally the time when children go out to play. I have many times heard negotiations between mothers and daughters/sons – children pleading to go out and play and mothers instructing them to first complete their homework. Many a times children beg to play with their best friend an hour or so longer and it is up to their mommies to allow them or not. It is really fascinating to witness such discussions. It reminds me of my carefree childhood days.

To conclude – Corporates should provide mobile phone allowance to working mothers as a welfare measure and aid them to balance their work with life at home … LOL

By Sakshi Prakash