In Mrs Undercover Radhika Apte Plays A Housewife Who Rejoins Work As An Undercover Agent: My Confessions As A Work-From-Home Mum

In Radhika Apte’s upcoming film Mrs Undercover, she plays the role of an ordinary, simple housewife who is recruited back by her former employers, the Special Force, to help capture a serial killer, who has been murdering women who are strong and independent. 

The trailer of the film was released recently and Radhika Apte who fits perfectly into the role of a housewife who reactivates her career shared the same on her social media. Watching the trailer brought back some bitter-sweet memories of my own days of being a stay-at-home mum or SAHM, restarting work after a gap of three years when my daughter was born and then becoming a work-from-home mum, also known as WAHM(Work-at-home mum).

It wasn’t easy re-starting my career all over again and re-learning to talk to adults after conversing in baby language for 3 years! I started working from the office as an executive editor and loved what I did but only for a while. I started missing my daughter while being in the office and was always worried about missing out on her important milestones and not being there to help her with homework, exactly like Radhika Apte says in Mrs Undercover, “Main koi mission wission nahi karungi, mere bete ke unit test hai saath din mein,” ( I am not going on any mission, my son has a unit test in seven days). So I decided to quit the job and be home with my daughter.

However, I did feel sad about giving up something I loved and felt unworthy at times like Radhika says in Mrs Undercover, “Housewife hoon kaam waam nahi karti main,” (I am a housewife I don’t work), I felt I wasn’t doing enough. I prayed I would find some kind of an opportunity where I could be with my daughter and also follow my passion. I guess god finally heard my prayers because I got an offer to write from home full-time! This meant I no longer had to be away from my little one while I could still follow my passion and build my career. 

Trust me, if there were more mum-friendly workplaces, like mine, there would be more women who would be shining in their careers while also taking care of home and kids. Like the dialogue in Mrs Undercover “Housewives kabhi mamuli nahi hoti, aapne aap mein Durga hoti hai” (Housewives are not just ordinary but they are like Goddess Durga). That’s so true! We, women, are born multitaskers and we do it all with ease!

However, as a work-from-home mum, people often think I have it easy and I often get asked if I’m living the dream. And to be honest, sometimes I feel like I am. But other times, I feel like I’m living a nightmare.

Let me explain

When I first started working from home, I thought it would be the perfect solution. I could be a mum, take care of my daughter, and still have a career. But little did I know, it’s not that simple.

Challenges Work-From-Home Mums Face

First of all, let’s talk about the challenges. When you’re a work-from-home mum, there’s always someone who needs your attention. Whether it’s your boss, your clients, or your children, you’re constantly being pulled in different directions. It’s like a never-ending game of tug-of-war. You need to don many hats in just a single day! 

When you are working from home, you need to keep juggling those hats; the work-from-home-mum hat, to a chef’s hat when your kid is hungry, to a tutor’s hat when you need to help them with homework, and not to forget the nurse’s hat when a toddler falls ill, then you go back to donning the work-from-home-mum hat again! Phew! And just when you think you are done, your friendly neighbour rings the doorbell because she wants to join you for a chat and chai because you are just a work-from-home mum!

One of my biggest learnings as a work-from-home mum has been learning to say no to neighbours, relatives and friends who tend to drop by in the midst of a working day. When you work from home, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and personal life but it’s important to set some boundaries. 

But despite all these challenges, I still choose to work from home. And that’s because there are some major advantages that come with this lifestyle.

Advantages Of Being A Work-From-Home-Mum

For starters, I get to be there for my daughter. I could drop her to school, pick her up, and attend all her after-school activities. I never had to worry about missing out on important moments in her life. I get to be there to comfort her when she is going through her teenage mood swing days.

And let’s not forget about the commute. Or should I say the lack of one? I used to spend hours sitting in traffic every day, but now, my commute is just a short walk down the hall to my home office.

Then there are the wardrobe advantages. I don’t have to worry about getting dressed up for the office every day. In fact, some days I’m lucky if I can manage to change out of my pyjamas. But hey, when you work from home, comfort is key.

Another advantage of working from home is the ability to customise your work environment to your liking. I have a cosy home office with all my favourite things around me, from family photos to my favourite mug. And best of all, I can blast my favourite music without worrying about disturbing my colleagues.

But perhaps the biggest advantage of working from home is the flexibility it provides. Of course, with great flexibility comes great responsibility. I have to be disciplined and motivated to get my work done. There’s no one standing over my shoulder, making sure I’m staying on task.

How To Make Work From Home Work!

Some simple strategies can make working from home a breeze. For example, I try to set up a designated workspace that’s free from distractions. I also make sure to take breaks throughout the day to stretch, go for a walk, or just take a few deep breaths.

Another strategy that works well for me is setting clear boundaries. I let my colleagues know when I’m available and when I’m not so that I can focus on my family when I need to. The same applies to my friends and family, they know they can’t come to visit me anytime they feel like it during a working day.

And finally, it’s important to have a sense of humour about the whole thing. When my kids interrupt my work, I try to see the humour in the situation rather than getting frustrated. One thing that’s worked for me is telling my daughter “Just imagine mamma is invisible for some time!” Yes, the invisible game worked like magic when I didn’t want to be disturbed.

Of course, there are still days when everything seems to go wrong. there’s a sick child to take care of, the dog is barking, and the deadlines are looming. But on those days, I try to remind myself that I’m doing the best I can. And I take comfort in knowing that I’m not the only work-from-home mum who’s juggling a million things at once. It’s all about finding a balance and learning to juggle all the different responsibilities. And let’s be real, some days that balance is easier to find than others.

If you’re a work-from-home mum, know that you’re not alone. We all face our share of challenges, but we also have a lot of advantages that make it all worthwhile. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll look back on these chaotic, messy days with fondness and nostalgia.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, my daughter needs help with her math homework, my dog needs a snack, and my boss is calling. It’s just another day in the life of a work-from-home mum! But honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything because it allows me to have the best of both worlds – a fulfilling career and a happy family life. And as long as I can stay focused and motivated, I know I can make it work.

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Cover image source: YouTube