Going back to work - My 2nd Innings

 I awkwardly stood tall as I glanced at the full length mirror at Senor's in Panjim, Goa. The sleek  black 4 inches sling back was a pretty pair however, I felt not so at home in those heels anymore. I was a mother of a three years old toddler son and an 8 month old daughter. My body was still reeling under the double whammy onslaught of motherhood - the weight not all gone  and looked like here to stay ! Rahul gave a very reassuring nod as I mentally matched it with the Allen Solly formal wear that I picked up the day before . After a three years sabbatical of babies, diapers and oodles of love and happiness  - I was stepping into my high heels again. No, not going back to flying rather to train and guide service industry  aspirants. 

I prepared for the meeting with a purpose and a prayer.

I ran across the  wet  parking lot as it drizzled before it poured.  After three years of sneakers and flats, I could not only stand tall and walk but also run in my heels. This felt like an innate gift and a skill not  many would boast of. I suddenly felt confident - if I can dash in my heels then I can conquer the world ! I was overwhelmed as I  addressed  a dozen people as a part of my validation round of the interview process. I felt so comfortable and ‘at home’ as the room resonated with applause to my disbelief. Thus my journey began – my second innings-   a trainer for a finishing school.

To put it simply, now I had added responsibilities. Two adorable babies,a busy husband,  ever supportive  Mama , my full time help and now my new job  demanding my  time, energy and focus. I asked for it -didn't I?Life is comparatively  laid back in Goa. I got a driver to ferry me from home to work and back to my babies  to be held and cuddled and to  Siddharth's  repetitive 'Carry me mama". Oft times Mama would have lulled Viveka to her afternoon nap and Siddharth would be back from  play school. I was tired than I had ever imagined, perhaps it was the multitasking I had chosen to dabble with.  The salary pings compensated for many conflicting emotions .The confusion was not that simple I guessed! Sipping Darjeeling tea one afternoon ,mama  who was a teacher for 33 odd years herself  was confident that I could now manage with a baby sitter as she had to head home to my dad and the older family members! I hugged her and she walked towards the plane - I found her almost heartless! as she waved at me -  with a baby in my  arms and a toddler clinging to my dress!

  Now I am on a lookout for a babysitter. I dislike the term 'babysitter' - a tinge of guilt tugs at my maternal heart because I am  opting to do something else that is important to ME.  I light a candle at the alter and put my request  to the most Holy One and his Mother. Prayed to my dad's patron saint  to help me leave my kids with a  sweet stranger so that I could step out  and tell the on boarding professionals  to be efficient and effective. I wasn't convinced of this fantastic idea however I went ahead ! Yes,  St. Padre Pio interceded yet again  when miraculously I met  a middle aged Donata, a wonderful mother of 4 grown up children .She was looking for a job  until she gets to fly out of India on her Portuguese passport. I was more than happy  to have her as my interim babysitter.   Me -a  flexi job professional  and three employees, it seemed like I was working for them. I had to take a call. I planned a cost cutting strategy. Bargained out  Savio, the  driver  and now you could see me driving in my heels and sometimes doing a 'Michael Schumacher" when I  was pinched of time. Donata with her maternal air convinced me of her baby sitting skills while Ruchika took charge of the house. We all worked together. 

 

I am  multi - tasking, I boast whenever this question is  thrown at me ever so often. Deep down I am of this idea that I just work a lot more than my other half. I am of the opinion that women do not multitask - we just work more and work harder. Multitasking is a term coined for women who juggle children, family, a job and running a household  and make it look like a breeze. That is pretty much a lot of work, you agree? Just wondering why nobody asks Rahul ,"how do you manage your job and the kids?"

Rahul you all know by now  works for the Hospitality Industry that takes him places. I have not only mastered the art of 'pack and go' but I am a corporate trainer on the go! That makes me a freelancer haha! Don't get me wrong , I might be all over the place like a mosquito but I do take my craft seriously. Over the years I have  gone back to university, up skilled, have a couple of  relevant degrees and  certifications under my belt. Read  Robert H Schuller, Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, attended  Daniel Goleman, Edward de Bono, Stephen Covey, Richard Bandler seminars and many more nearer home.

 

So what do I do?  A Corporate trainer leads and facilitates the learning process to   educate  and up skill professionals.  this benefits the  employers and it is also beneficial for employees to  hone their  knowledge and skills . It is a win win situation most times ! Usually the learning  and development arm of the organization undertakes this task of Training Need Analysis  and  identified needs around which  the content is based . This  is where we come in as Trainers who lead the game of learning through classroom and now virtual platforms. My domain is  personal effectiveness through Life Skills  and Behavioral Training. often on I have lead  sales and  service training, leadership programs - You just read and research the content and you are at the top of the game( and hope and pray that your knowledge will keep you afloat!). I work with training houses, individual organizations and universities.  It is undoubtedly a fulfilling experience to be in a classroom among people who are eager to learn, many a times to unlearn and relearn, to remind and realign to follow ups and palpable learning outcomes. Have clocked over thousand hours of active training and innumerarable hours of research and content building. Through the training classroom doors  I have come across beautiful people - trainers, colleagues, friends, counselors , managers - exemplary personalities, I must say, who are passionate about this ever dynamic world of learning,growth and  value addition. I am a part of the impact workforce - if there is a term like this, I just coined it! :)

 

The notorious Covid 19 brought the world to a standstill - well almost . I bartered tech lousy to tech savvy almost overnight to be a part of a couple of online training projects. I am peering at the screen in my formals and my pink  crocs, and how I miss the classroom and my heels. I choose not to because I am alive and kicking and working and is it not reason enough to be happy and grateful? 

As I wade through this phase of life  my children are now all grown up -promising  teenagers brought up not just on love and everything worldly wise but also on high dosage of life skills lectures and  learning activities and rounding  up with the  the all essential  feedback.  My juggling is technical  - have applied the Pareto's 80/20 family / profession principle. They both sit pretty well and  juggling the hats have given me the time and space to put my family first, pursue my passion of reading and writing, travelling, dreaming and doing nothing ,watching people and learning from  them. Maybe I could flip it once the kids have flown out of the nest.

"I watch people and learn from them." - Robert H Schuller. 

( and so do I ! )

Claudia Joshi 

29, January 2021.