Every time my child cries at Daycare Dropoff, I imagine her future therapist blaming me for her trauma. Sometimes my mind revolves back to the tikok of how “unnatural” takes small children away from their mothers destroy their ability to create attachments. Other times it goes to the teacher who told me that day care children do not do so well in school.
Of course, I am not alone in my daily debt spiral. Almost every working mother struggles with the balances – Both real and imagined – who accompany a career after having children. You both get skeptics who question your dedication to your children and people as others guess your commitment to your job. It may feel like you are coming forward professionally you have to Nackle your role as mama. But if you let the work seep into family time, you are a bad parent. So you stop living two separate lives without enough time for either one (not to mention yourself).
So it was both surprising and refreshing to see motherhood take the center at the Grammy Awards this year on February 2. Several nominees not only brought their children to the show, but made them actively part of the experience. And the cameras sent everything to everyone who looks from home.
Most of the attention went to Beyoncé, who brought his daughter Blue Ivy on stage for his acceptance number after Winning album of the year. The 13-year-old was the first person the mother turned to hug after her Long -awaited winand blue ivy Apparently asked to go up with her. Bey’s ohasitative response? “Of course.”
She wasn’t the only one. Alicia Keys also brought her 10-year-old son Genesis to Accept Dr. Dre Global Impact AwardSometimes his hand grabbed when she spoke. (Genesis also earned fans of Dance with Taylor Swift in the audience, with keys cheering on him.)
Then there was Shakira, who used Her acceptance number for best Latin pop album To shout out their children, Milan, 12 and Sasha, 10. “I’m so proud of you, of your friendly hearts,” she said. “Thank you so much for supporting me as you do. I love you.” They blew her kisses from the audience.
Earlier, when Red carpet interviewer asked Kehlani About bringing her daughter Adeya to the prices, the singer told her that her 5-year-old was not only a plus-One-adya was on Kehlani’s album nominated for best progressive R&B album as well, so she was technically a Grammy nominated herself.
This show of super successful women who illuminate their children at the largest, most published event in their industry sent a powerful message: you can be at the top of your profession, draw a schedule with all types of irregular hours and crazy trips, and still Prioritize your children. Having a family does not mean that you cannot have an amazing career.
Of course, these musicians are in no way your average working mothers. Their status gives them opportunities such as personal childcare and enough influence to negotiate conditions that your everyday employee does not have (such as putting your daughter on your album). Still, they also juggle great demands which mean that they are definitely not home for dinner every night; They probably have conversations with their children about Paparazzi and the media that I couldn’t imagine having to navigate.
It also struck me that as pop stars, their success (unfortunately) often depends on being conventionally hot. It is literally part of their job to be seen as sex symbols – which is, yes, not something that our culture associates with mothers, to say the least. So to bring their children in the limelight makes a statement. Yes, you can rock cleavage and thigh -high split and love your children. You can shake your hips and twerk like a badass and be a fantastic mom.
To be sure, watching Grammys didn’t make me feel less guilty when I heard my daughter cry for me from her classroom this morning. But the broadcast presented an alternative picture of motherhood that I loved – one where mothers are not built by stereotypes, or feel a need to hide some of themselves to find success.
My new dream? When my daughter is old enough for motherhood, I hope we live in a world there, instead of fighting to balance work and family, all mothers can unnapologetically crush it with their children right there and cheer on them.
Jennifer secretly Is a writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience in fitness and wellness journalism. She previously worked as a senior fitness editor for Well+Good and the editor of Dance Magazine. A Uesca-certified running coach, she has written about running and fitness for publications such as Shape, GQ, Runner’s World and The Atlantic.
