W(*)FH !

(*W(*)FH - No offense meant. The title is just to catch your attention).

The COVID finds...  

Career Trendsetters...  

The productivity boosters...  

Ring any bells?  

Uhm...  

That's US! 

The WFH Folks!  

(But not really as fancy as we sound, though!)  

To the onlookers,  

We're those women* who—  

(* Sorry guys! The focus is on women this time)—  

Sign in at the beginning of the day  

Or midday  

And sign out after  

A 9-hour shift.  

That's all we do!  

Otherwise, every workday  

Is just another normal day in our lives—  

The usual routine,  

Performing chores and running households.  

If we are working moms,  

That comes with additional responsibilities:  

Nursing time, nappy time, nap time,  

Mealtime, stroll time, tummy time—  

At the end of the day,  

More of 'Mommy time'.  

Things get a little better  

If you have school-going kids—  

Just until  

You realize you already  

Have an overgrown kid at home  

That no school would be ready to admit!  

(Age issues, probably.!)  

We are like these  

Specially curated, customized combo packages  

To meet every family's specific needs—  

More like those Big Day Sale combo offers—  

Value for money,  

And a happy customer!  

When you have a WFH spouse,  

The fun doubles.  

To add more to the drama,  

Just bring in a human siren in diapers  

That goes off in intervals  

With no prior warning whatsoever!  

Or add some extra spice  

By bringing a parent-in-law (or laws) to the scene.  

If one is the overgrown child,  

The other is the toddler  

With a long-forgotten adulthood.  

Work aside, let's move on to work-related calls...

Let's be honest here.  

Most of us find comfort behind the disabled camera—  

Since we wouldn't really want you to witness  

Whatever is going on there.  

Trust me! We don't.

'Cause we, too, are clueless about it.  

One moment, it could be a messy kitchen  

Where the cooker chooses to alert you

Right when you turn on your mic—  

Or a saucepan goes tumbling in slow-motion,  

Poorly mimicking rock band music.  

Us?

In loungewear, with a sleep-deprived zombie look.  

Let's wind it up just there.  

For new mommies,  

Sometimes our call schedules  

Match perfectly with our spouses—  

Whether we do or not!  

And that's exactly when your baby  

Gives you that threatening look,  

With tear-filled, remorseful eyes:  

"Don't you dare leave me with Daddy!"

She joins the meeting with Mommy,  

Enthusiastic and gleeful—  

Until she discovers her favorite game: 

Taking turns clicking the keypad—  

First with her fingers, then with her toes,  

Tugging at the headphones or the charger cable.  

And just when you think you are almost done with it,  

She turns on the mic and goes "Baaaaaa!"  

As your teammates jump off their seats.  

And you, sheepishly,  

Apologize.

Finally...

When the whole world sleeps,  

We arise.  

We pick up the laptop  

And work.

As long as we can.  

Losing sleep,  

Losing out on  

A time for ourselves.  

We've definitelyconsidered reaching out  

For help and support—  

(Just in case you were suggesting the same.)  

We've tried hiring a helper—  

Even a cook—  

But realized  

We would not be able to afford  

A separate caregiver for every member  

Of the family.  

(*Separate, just to avoid unnecessary politics.)  

There are a few things  

That wouldn't change—  

No matter how much we try,  

No matter how much we strive  

To bring a difference.  

While some women are traveling to space  

And creating history this very moment, 

We aren't stranded in space—  

But in our own households.  

WFH is great...

As long as you can manage  

To squeeze in some work  

Between your regular duties.  

'Cause we are born caregivers  

And shall always be—  

Whether we work from home  

Or at a workplace.  

But all we seek 

Is for people to realize  

That we are doing some real 'work' at home—  

Something we are paid for,

Not just another chore to add to the list.  

Respect the fact and give us the space. 

Value our time.  

So,  

No matter what—

We revive,

We arrive,

We strive, 

We survive.

Hoping the world will someday let us thrive. 

This is us.  

Your Work From Home (WFH) Folks, signing out.  

image Credits: https://www.freepik.com

________________________________________

Disclaimer: This poem is based on personal experience and is not intended to hurt anyone in particular. I hope you read it with an open heart and show it some love.