MomStar Winner Gouraja Parelkar Talks About Equal Parenting And Winning The Title

MomStar Winner Gouraja Parelkar Talks About Equal Parenting And Winning The Title

16 Jun 2022 | 6 min Read

Reema Shah

Author | 740 Articles

Motherhood comes without a break and there is no handbook, but taking charge of each day and taking things one step at a time can make the journey worthwhile.

MomStar winner Gouraja Parelkar shares the journey of her efforts behind winning the MomStar title, her career, motherhood and more.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a full-time working mum on another full-time adventure called parenthood. That’s what I like to call it because once a mum, you are always a mum. My life has transformed completely for good, and I now understand how it is to see your heart grow outside your body. 

It is the most rewarding emotion and I feel blessed every single day. I am an avid reader and an equal parenting advocate as well. Each day, I try my best to live life to the fullest.

2. Please tell us about your profession / full-time content creation journey.

Yes, I am a full-time working mum, currently working with Accenture as a senior instructional designer. I enjoy my work and I feel that is something that powers me up by keeping me sane and being a good mother to my son. At the same time, I also blog on Instagram at times as @gouraja

Gouraja Parelkar manages work and motherhood with her husband’s support and has been setting a great example for her child

3. How do you manage motherhood and content creation/job?

This is a good question, but surprisingly I have no answer to it. I have no recipe for balance. I take each day as it comes. I stay in a nuclear family by choice and I am very proud of my decision to move out and stay with my husband and son to live the life I am joyfully creating.

But with freedom, also comes a sense of responsibility. My husband and I also try to instil the same sense of self-independence and responsibility in my son. My mum is my role model. She was a working mother and I have seen her balance both sides with grace. 

4. How was your pregnancy journey? Did you face any challenges?

By God’s grace, I had a very smooth pregnancy period. It was one of the best times of my life. I had almost no morning sickness and I was pampered by my mum and my husband to the hilt.

Gouraja and her husband are both career-oriented while also prioritising their son in every aspect

5. Husbands play a crucial role in bringing up a child, what are your views on equal parenting? How has your hubby helped you co-parent?

When I found out I was pregnant, I honestly wasn’t ready. There was a turmoil of emotions and I thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. However, my husband was extremely supportive and always considered this journey to be special.

I still remember the first phone call to my mum, where my husband told her, “Guess what, WE are pregnant!”

As mentioned earlier, I am a strong advocate of equal parenting. My husband is my equal partner. My son shares a special bond with my husband and I am proud that he has been a great role model for him. He has seen both of us do the household chores together, be it cooking or cleaning. We both cleaned our son’s potty, bathed him, and looked after him. I don’t know how I would manage without my husband.

6. How has your relationship changed with your husband after becoming a parent?

I can say my relationship with him hasn’t changed much, but it has surely made us rethink our aims and goals in life, which now revolve around our son. We have learned to have fun in small moments and not to take life for granted. We always keep the kid in us alive.

7. What was your motivation behind participating in MomStar? Why did you feel you were the right choice to win? 

MomStar competition is not just any other regular competition but a platform to empower each mum. I wanted to show that I am not a celebrity mum, but a “mum next door” that is just like other mums. Each mum can achieve her dreams for herself and her child if she believes in herself, just the way I did.

Gouraja’s son is elated after she won the MomStar title and that has made her winning worthwhile

8. How does it feel to be a MomStar? Tell us about your efforts and challenges. 

Of course, it feels surreal. I couldn’t stop smiling ear to ear when I got to know I won. And guess who was over the moon? My son. He did the happy dance and even asked me when I would get to wear the crown and sash. To see the joy in his eyes was priceless and more important to me than winning this competition. I can never forget this moment.

9. How did your family react when they found out you won?

My family had been super supportive and were elated to know that I won. My mum went all out informing her relatives. I, throughout all this, sat there blushing.

10. Last year’s MomStar winner Banashree Gala got a lot of fame and continues to create engaging content. How do you think winning this title will change your life?

Winning this competition has motivated me to continue posting on my Instagram handle more frequently and regularly. Until now, my posting schedule has not been regular, simply because I would post on a whim. From now on I will try to put more serious thoughts and planning into it. Banashree has been a role model to me, and I personally enjoy her content. 

11. What are your professional plans now that you won MomStar?

If I do get a good opportunity I would surely like to explore new avenues through collaborations, shoots and promotions. I parallelly plan to continue with my career as an instructional designer while handling parenting duties.

12. How do you think your win will positively affect your child’s outlook on life? 

As mentioned earlier, my son was the happiest with my win. Honestly, I am his fan. I admire his gusto and opinionated behaviour. But in a true sense, I try to raise a kind son who is empathetic and a discerning human as he grows up. I think when he grows up and looks back at this moment he will know that his mum tried her best and never gave up.

Gouraja Parelkar proves the importance of equal parenting in raising a child and how she is clear about her priorities when it comes to both parenting and career. We congratulate her on winning the title of MomStar. 

A

gallery
send-btn

Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.