It’s me! In the papers!
As a SAHM sometimes you’re not sure what success looks like to you now. Regardless, they say to celebrate every win, no matter how small, and this to me is a win and I want to put it here to celebrate it with you. I’ve briefly translated the article below, for my non-Malay readers:
Dreams And Meaning Behind “Success” For 3 Youths
Dreams changed after having a kid… a former working adult now Stay-At-Home-Mum
As a full-time SAHM, Sharifah Ameera Binsemait is aware of the challenges faced by her community. Life with a daily routine that is the same, and never-ending work without off-days, sick leave or a salary.
These women rarely get to see, meet and communicate with many other adults.
When Covid-19 hit, the lonliness hit harder, what more when family members weren’t allowed to come over, playgrounds we closed, and most people were not allowed out unless really neccessary.
During the lockdown 2 years ago, Sharifah Ameera started the website everydaymama.co to support mothers who chose not to work and to be SAHMs instead, like her.
On the website, the 31-year-old writes about her experiences as a SAHM and connects with others like her not only to create a community but to also remind them that they are not alone.
“I use the platform to remind other SAHMs that yes it is challenging, and we all feel unsure sometimes, but we are not alone,” says the mother of a 2.5 year old.
Last year, Sharifah Ameera realised that SAHMs had to cook more often when other family members had to work from home, and the children had home-based learning.
She then produced and sold and e-Book with over 50 recipies for the whole family to help SAHMs plan their meals weekly for the household.
Today, the platform everydaymama.co has a community of over 400 mothers.
Sharifah Ameera, who possesses a Bachelors Degree in Communications with Business from SUSS, worked in the Communications and Marketing field for 7 years before stopping when she had her child.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been taught to study hard so I can get a good job, that paid well. And then work hard for the next 30 years so that I have enough savings to enjoy life when I’m old. We knew it then as the 5Cs. When I had completed my studies and gotten a good-paying job, I felt like I was living the Singaporean Dream, and that I was on the right path,” says the wife of an IT Manager.
However, when she decided to be a SAHM, she realised that she no longer dreamed of a huge bank account or to climb the coroporate ladder.
“It was no longer about fitting myself into a dream that was set by others. It was about creating my own dream and striving hard to achieve it,” says Sharifah Ameera.
She adds, “Happiness holds different meanings to each person. I feel that youth these days are more open to alternate forms of happiness or success and society is slowly accepting it. Surely there are many mothers who enjoy going out to work and bringing home earnings for their family. Just the same, there are many mothes who enjoy staying home and are content with what there is.”
Article written by Nur Dhuha Esoof
Photo by Nur Diyana Taha