Women
SOME career women in Jigawa have said that balancing the demands of work with caring for children remained a daily struggle for them.
They said that striking balance between a career and motherhood requires resilience, careful planning and family support.
A cross section of the working mothers stated this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Dutse.
Mrs Nafisa Ashiru, a lecturer, said that while combining career with motherhood could be overwhelming, determination and support systems had helped her cope.
She said that balancing teaching, research and caring for an infant required proper time management and sacrifice.
Ashiru said that resuming work after maternity leave was emotionally difficult, especially leaving her baby behind.
“There are days I have lectures, meetings and academic responsibilities, yet I still have to ensure my child is well-fed and cared for.
“It is not easy, but planning ahead and having family support make a big difference,” she said.
Ashiru urged employers to introduce more family-friendly workplace policies, including flexible work schedules for nursing mothers.
Mrs Samira Musa, a teacher, said teaching while raising a young child demanded patience and effective time management.
Musa said that she often prepared meals and organised household chores early before leaving for school to reduce pressure later in the day.
“As mothers, we have to give our best both at work and at home. Sometimes it is exhausting, but seeing my child is healthy and progressing gave me the strength to keep going,” she said.
Musa encouraged spouses to actively participate in childcare to reduce the burden on nursing mothers.
Also, Mrs Aisha Yazid, a nurse, described shift duties as one of the greatest challenges for nursing mothers in the health sector.
She said that irregular working hours sometimes made breastfeeding and bonding with her child difficult.
“My work schedule changes frequently, and there are times I have to spend long hours at the hospital. Without the support of my family, balancing work and childcare would be almost impossible,” she said.
Yazid, therefore, advocated for provision of designated breastfeeding spaces and allocation of reasonable breaks for nursing mothers.
On her part, Mrs Fatima Hayatu, a banker, said that the banking profession required long working hours, which made it difficult to spend adequate time with her child.
Hayatu said that she relied on careful scheduling and trusted caregivers to ensure that her child received proper attention in her absence.
“Every working mother experiences moments of guilt for not spending enough time with her child. However, we strive to make the little time we have together meaningful,” she said.
Hayatu stressed the need for organisations to adopt policies that promote work-life balance for parents, especially mothers with infants.
She noted that while balancing careers and childcare remained challenging, supportive spouses, extended family members, reliable caregivers and understanding employers could significantly ease the burden.
“Policymakers and employers should strengthen maternity support initiatives, to improve the wellbeing of mothers, children and overall workplace productivity.” (NAN)
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Tags: Balancing Career Daily challenge Jigawa women Motherhood