They say life is a canvas and every twist, every turn, every blessing and every challenge is a brushstroke by the great artist above. Try telling that to a not-so-little DIP site who suddenly finds their parent not just at home, but at school too. Let me explain.
Rewind a couple of years … Life, in its unpredictable glory threw me a curveball; the kind dipped in gold. I got the opportunity to work at DPS Sharjah. As a recruiter myself, I’ve seen the sparkle in the eyes of parents when they hear about an opening here. For many, it feels like the ultimate jackpot: career, family, income, community, vacations.. what more could one ask for?
With a heart full of gratitude and optimism, I stepped into this new role. I joined. I learned. I grew. The days rolled into months and before I knew it, years had passed. But while I was living this ‘golden opportunity’, someone else wasn’t exactly thrilled about it- my kids.
Yes, the very same children I once lovingly dropped off at school now had to coexist with me on campus. Suddenly, our home life merged with school life. No boundaries. No escape. My return home was no longer greeted with hugs or homework queries. Instead, I was met with suspicious stares and whispered interrogations.
“Did Ma’am say anything to you today?” , “Are you sure she didn’t call you?”
And then came my inevitable response, “What did you do now?”
Sounds familiar? I’m guessing I’m not the only parent here who’s been caught by the teacher to reflect upon the reality of their not-so-angelic little one. My children, like many others, complain about the chilling words, “Do you want me to inform your mother?”
And then there’s me trying to run away when I catch a glimpse of my child’s teacher in visible radius. The only thing I haven’t attempted yet is jumping into the nearby bushes. I hope I don’t get to that day.
So yes, while I balance the joys of being employed as a DIP site and the responsibilities of a mother, it often feels like I’m doing so on the edge of the frying pan- sizzling, hot and just one slip away from being charred.
But let’s be honest. Would I trade it for anything else? Probably not.
After all, in this fine dance between roles, professional and personal, we find the richest stories, the deepest lessons, and the warmest memories. Dear teachers, I am forever grateful for your warm and caring inputs, and I welcome them with open arms in future too. Let this article not stop you. On that note, I want to express my genuine gratitude for all the thoughtful appreciation and words of encouragement that have been shared with me about my kids (I had to say that, lest people think I only hear notorious ones!)
I’m sure one day, when our kids look back, they might just realise that having their mom close wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe. They’ll also realise that all the feedback they received from their teachers was in their best interest too, even if it felt like a lesson in disguise at the time.
I’d love to conclude by saying that this article is an absolute figment of my imagination, lest people now try to trace my DNA on campus.
JENNET SUSAN CHANDY
HR Administrator
