22 Jun 2022 | 8 min Read
Reema Shah
Author | 740 Articles
As a working parent, the key is to enjoy both career and motherhood with clear goals when it comes to career and also give the child the space to learn, make mistakes and grow.
Speaking to BabyChakra mum influencer Saru Mukherjee Sharma shares the perks of being a content creator, a mother and having a supportive partner who motivates her to give her best each day.
I’m a 32 years old hands-on mum and a Digital Content Creator. I was born in West Bengal- Birbhum and brought up in Ludhiana which is currently my hometown and currently living in Gurgaon.
My Instagram profile diapers_and_lipsticks is all about parenting, beauty and lifestyle! I share my experiences and recommendations that help thousands of mums. Before I became a content creator, I was working with corporates in US Mortgages for over five years. Since my Dad is a businessman, I was always inspired to do something independently. Today, I’m a full-time content creator.
It started as a hobby. I used to love photography and would share my newborn’s photoshoots and post my pregnancy journey pictures on my page. My page started getting noticed and soon several brands started reaching out to me. Within two years, I was doing campaigns that were well paid. I decided not to go back to my job and follow my passion for a living.
If you’re passionate about sharing your thoughts, and your journey with others and are self-driven then absolutely yes! There are hundreds of mum influencers who are doing it full time and earning through Instagram like me. But of course, it isn’t as easy as it looks, there’s a ton of work that goes behind every content. Conceptualising, scripting, shooting, posting, interacting with your audience, meeting the brand’s deadlines along with invoicing and accounting – there are so many roles you play in just one job.
This is why you really need to be passionate about it. Times have changed and platforms like Instagram have given opportunities to so many creators and talents. Now everyone has a chance!
My family has always been very supportive of my choices. Although initially Content Creation wasn’t looked at as an alternate career but rather a hobby. But when they saw my hard work and passion for it along with the recognition I received, their perception changed.
It makes me super proud when I take my family on paid vacations and am able to contribute financially to my home. My child thinks I have a super cool job and is very proud of me!
My first trimester of pregnancy wasn’t easy. I was put on complete bed rest as we had a lot of trouble conceiving. My doctor didn’t want to take any chances. But from the second trimester, my journey was smooth and pleasant which I will cherish forever.
Equal parenting is not a question of choice anymore but compulsory. A mum can’t and shouldn’t be raising the child by herself. Gone are those days when fathers would just do a guest appearance. They need to be involved throughout the journey. My husband has been available whenever I need him and has been an active father too.
We truly have evolved for good after becoming parents. We’re a team now that does a lot of discussions and decision-making together on how the baby should be raised. I feel it’s very important to exchange parenting values and ideas with each other to be on the same page so that there aren’t clashes between the parents and the child is also not confused.
I have always kept it very simple, I’m not one of those mums who would try new recipes and try kid-friendly dishes. My son eats everything that we eat at home. But yes, I ensure that we all eat wholesome homemade food at least six days a week and have one cheat day.
I make sure we make green veggies at home and we all eat them and have fruits as snacks so that the child is led by example. I don’t even have to put in any effort because kids like doing what their parents do. He loves milk during bedtime with a storybook which has become a ritual which he won’t miss out on.
It’s important to do something for yourself and take out time for yourself. It can be anything that gives you peace and happiness. Indulge in activities like exercising, walking, jogging, reading or watching your favourite movie at peace. Set some time aside yourself to enjoy, maybe by putting your child for a nap or when he goes to school. Talk to your loved ones or a therapist if you’re struggling.
There are so many things I learn every day and each time it’s a different experience working with brands. But one thing I truly learnt is to be assertive when needed! Learn to say no and not let the brands take advantage of you and your politeness.
Content creation is definitely it’s a lucrative career but it’s a long journey. I’m truly grateful for the work I get and for the brands I get to work with. I have worked with small start-ups to big brands like Amazon, Myntra, Nestle, Loreal etc. If you have relevant and quality content along with good engagement and a niche audience, the brands do pay really well.
Initially, I used to try to do activities that I would see mothers doing with their kids, which involved fun learning structured activities. Soon I realised my son didn’t enjoy it that much. Instead, he would love it when I would play hide and seek with him or play catch the ball or monster mum or even just enjoy drawing together. He would find me a fun company to be with who isn’t always trying to teach him something. Kids learn every day on their own, so the best thing we can do is to be fun parents whenever we can. These are the memories they will cherish growing up.
I was raised in a very loving and free environment which I believe has helped me grow up to be a kind person. It’s important to set boundaries but over-disciplining or too many rules or strict rules make children rebellious. They would want to break the rules. I believe in gentle yet firm parenting.
I want to give him all the exposure I can, and basic values to raise a kind, compassionate and responsible human. Career-wise he will be the best judge of what he wants to become, and do something that he’s passionate about. But I would really want him to do something for the world and make it a better place, even if they’re small acts of kindness.
Saru Mukherjee Sharma sets an example of progressive parenting along with her career choice which modern women today live for. She is an inspiration to those mums who want to take a leap of faith in their careers and make it big.
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