Women 2.0
MOMMY SHOTS CELEBRATEs WOMEN'S DAY WITH EQUALITY OF PARENTING
Why do women have to choose between a career and a baby? Why do fathers have to be away at work and miss all the baby's first moments? This women's day, we pay tribute to the rising sensibility of responsibilities that should be willingly shared between partners. We should be celebrating equality of parenting.
There have always been publicised stories about celebrities, business tycoons and other women in the media, going back to work months after having a baby and doing a fabulous job of it. The common woman (and man for that matter) though have been conditioned to believe that a woman's career has to take a backseat to the responsibility of bringing up a child.
Who said so? Mommy Shots says no!
No, it does not take being a celebrity with an army of stylists, trainers, personal assistants and nannies to balance work and baby. All it takes is a supportive partner, confidence and a strong sense of self. This makes for confident moms and dads who set an example of gender equality for their children and other young couples.
Mommy shots primarily focuses on Maternity, Newborn, Toddler and Family photography but this time around, we bring you a series of photographs showcasing young Mums and mums-to-be who have managed to break almost every parenting and motherhood stereotype in different fields of work with their equal halves.
Ashrita, a professional dancer, was worried about getting back into shape and on stage after being a mommy. Her supportive partner believed she could do it and that her body would listen to her mind. All she needed was time to adjust. Preetham has been her best friend through the last 2 years which makes every minute of being a mum and a wife truly worth it.
It helped that baby Dev loves music and dance and is happy to watch her through her practice (and participate on occasion). Now that he accompanies her to dance class each day, he is also quick to tell everyone at home when mommy is shouted at by the guru!
Santhosh has been going the extra mile for his wife Reema in the excitement of their little one's arrival, right from driving her to work and back, giving her foot massages and painting her toe nails :). He even insisted that he takes equal amount of time off to share the experience of it all with her.
Though Santhosh hasn't given up cocktails to give her company, he, however, has mastered the art of making mocktails just for her!
Tripthy is a stay-at-home mum with adorable twins Aarna and Ira. With zero nanny-support, Sharath has been (with not too much choice since they have two kids) a very big part of bringing Aarna and Ira up. Coming home early from work to letting Tripthy sleep through and doing his bit of night duty to taking off from work when any of them are unwell, there couldn't be bigger balance with the four of them. Being marathon runners, the two of them take turns to baby sit while the other keeps their running in check. Talk about Super-parents!
Vaijayanthi, owner at Bohemiam Weaves, always wanted to start her own venture. Having little Ankita, acted as a catalyst to take the plunge. More importantly, having a spouse who shouldered every bit of their child's responsibility despite having a demanding career himself, only made it easier.
Ambika turned entrepreneur at the age of 25 with her event-management company A-Cube project. The break from work to have little Shanyraa was overwhelming but also much-awaited! Taking a short break from her career wasn't easy but it had to be done and Ambika is now right back at where she used to be, only this time with a living doll by her side.
Watching Ankit be the best dad he can be the last 6 months has been special and pleasantly surprising! Ankit encouraged her to get back to work by sharing Shanyraa's responsibilities equally, while handling his own busy career.
What started as an inspiration to bake her son's birthday cake after a heave dose of food episodes during her pregnancy, is now a fully grown home-baking business 'The little Devil's Cake Shop', thanks to the loads of confidence boosting from her partner Subhasish and Rimo her 4-year old son! When Sharmistha is not working on cake orders, you can find her baking with and for her little Devil Rimo!
As a professional contemporary and bharatanatyam dancer, Aarabi wanted nothing more than to continue doing what defines her through her pregnancy - dance, train and teach. That is exactly what she did with lots of help from her terrific husband. Two weeks post baby, she's back to training and hopes to be in the studio very soon. Everytime she sees Rethas, her husband, going about his own music practice or work with a baby in his lap, she is glad to have a wonderful partner who values her career and her.
An architect mommy and a restaurateur daddy, Padmakshi spends equal amount of time with both parents through each day. Swetha and Pradeep balance their careers and lives with Padmakshi at the forefront, making each day and memory count.
A pilot by profession, Sashank makes the most of his time with his little girl Saleena when he is home. Tushita is a stay-at-home mum, by choice, which ain't no easy feat! Sashank whole-heartedly insists that she takes some 'me-time' off when he is around and does what every stay-at-home mum can do, without a doubt!
While we choose to celebrate the working mommy, we have to applaud the man behind and beside her, the one helping bring equality into the picture!
We’ve observed today's dads who take great pride in their partner's professional success and strongly believe that they are better nappy changers than the mommies! Honestly, how perfectly adorable is it to come home after a crazy day at work to find that daddy has cooked dinner, fed and changed the baby and is waiting with a glass of wine? Or the one who stays at home with the baby so mom can conquer the workspace! These hands on fathers make our hearts melt and are a big reason that we can celebrate a day dedicated to women.
Mommy shots celebrates Mums who have continued being themselves, career, passion and all, through pregnancy and after the baby and the men who stand by them, adoring them to the moon and back. We need more of them in our world!
To co-pregnant-ing and co-parenting in 2015. Happy women's day!