Extras by Women!!!

I'm sure many of us have been both working women and a stay at home

I had listed out what I do as a SAHM other than the general housekeeping jobs - for another thread and thought I could start a positive thread on this !

Please contribute what extras you do as a woman (working or SAHM) that benefits yourimmediate family, extended family and the society at large - other than the general housekeeping and the work at office (other than KPAs - key performance areas if working) ! 

Let me go first !

I remember when I was working - on my first job (before google and internet), in my 2nd month, I created a document to teach newcomers the basic steps to start off with our particular software! - My PM was quite surprised that I got the idea and executed it too! No need to tell who got a first 'Exceeds Expecations' appraisal  

I've been at both ends - working and SAHM

As a working woman - (I was heading the software dept of an IT company when I left the corporate world), I also took care of my toddler, and my elderly FIL, supported his surgeries without any help and also completed my MBA parallelly! And also participated in several extended family functions and emergencies too!!

But when my son was about 4, there was a point in my career where I thought my peace of mind was more important, and I left my job!
Now what did I do for the past 7 years - apart from the usual work at home - housekeeping, cooking, groceries, laundry

Paid work -

1. Taken up paid projects on and off - I wanted to donate wheel chairs to the spastic children when my FIL passed away - So I wrote practice questions for IIT-JEE maths training institutes - and used that money for buying 2 wheel chairs - not that my DH would refuse, but because I wanted to do it myself!
2. I take maths classes and vedic maths classes - I teach from classes 6-12th! I get paid ! The entire amount goes to the bridge school that educates and feeds slum children
3. Wanted to make my kitchen tupperwarized - I did a 1 month software project and got the cash 
4. I wanted to buy a laptop for myself - did the same again!

Unpaid work:

1. I used to take weekly balvihar classes - teach kids slokas, bhajans, stories from our epics and history, value education etc.
2. Raise awareness about what are the support systems available for disabled kids/adults and how they can get independent - through a website (My dad is an expert on integration of the disabled into mainstream)
3. I have created awareness about the activites of a Green organization
4. I have created awareness about a school for special kids - and raised lot of money for them
5. I have created awareness about an lady cardiologist who raises money and does free heart surgeries for poor children (Amitabh bachchan also supports this hospital - and I got to shake hands with him )
6. I hope everyone knows about my website http://smartkids.esy.es that I have created to raise awareness about good and bad touch for little kids (after molestation episodes in schools!)

At home and family:

1. Took complete care of my FIL till he was with us! Have always been the first point of call for anyone who has any sickness or emergencies - I have provided mental, emotional, physical and financial support to many family members
2. Saved and invested my husbands salary every month (DH never bothered to see what I was doing) and was able to provide HALF of the cost of our home - so we had to take only half the loan amount!
3. Paid all the bills for home - DH never had to bother about electricity bills or phone bills or vehicle insurance or taxes !
4. Took care of everything about son - school, extra classes, music, reading, travelling, karate, spiritual knowledge - exams, PTMs, his nutrition, issues with friends !
5. I try to make healthy food - that means every single masala powder I make at home, every batter I make at home, I make all kinds of food from pasta, pizza to pesarettu and dhokla to paneer tikka and momos - all made healthy with whole grain ingredients and least preservatives - son is well adjusted enough to eat all kinds of food with gusto 
6. I have a garden - to grow leafy vegetables and small veggies so that we get fresh stuff
7. I play with my kid and his friends - I teach them math tricks and do science experiments

With friends:

1. Most of DH's friends call me for guidance when they have a cousin or nephew or niece who's starting out after college!
2. They also call me when they need some info on the internet that ONLY I can dig out
3. They call me when they need some work to be done online
4. I have created customer and invoice management systems for friends who have their own business!
5. When they buy any electronic gadget - they come to me to check if it is all safe and what to install - (And most of my DH's friends are in highest positions in software industry and still !!!)
6. DH's friends' wives and my friends call me for any and every doubt they have regarding kids' school work - any subject - be it sanskrit or maths or science or some behavior issues - I feel lucky that I can help out!
7. Many of my friends who are working - I make revision worksheets for them so that they can print and give their kids tests - easier for them to multitask between cooking and supervising a written test than between cooking and teaching !!
8. One of the kids of a working mom who hates going to the creche - he used to get off at our stop because he could get yummy food and play freely - but I cant make that random - so I made it a practice to bring him home every Friday!
9. I made a points chart system for about 10 kids aged between 6-12 with a reward program, due to which many of my friends are having peaceful mornings !

So do I neglect myself ? No

1. I learn music
2. I take a nap in the afternoon - at least 10 minutes
3. I read spiritual books and sing bhajans whenever they are organized in friends' homes (or my home)
4. I talk to my family and friends
5. I browse the internet
6. I garden, I enjoy my walk around the park around the lake
7. I spend time with DH, I talk, laugh, sing
8. I make special food items just for myself!
9. I even go to the beauty parlour though very rarely!!!
10. I am a part of coursera - MOOC free courses on the internet to update your skills !
11. I discuss deep philosophy with my son and tell him stories !

I have to mention that my DH never stops me from doing anything and also doesnt create a fuss if the house is not clean on a particular day or food is not fresh and hot (Happens very rarely!)- he'll contribute to whatever he can do on weekends (no time otherwise!) 


I would like to know what each of you do APART from housekeeping or office work 

Some may have craft hobbies, some might like to write, some might stitch, some might have a sick family member who needs special care, some might have some special skills that makes them famous in their circle  

I know a SAHM who does all the model projects and craft projects for her kid's teachers at school !!! And I know a working woman who takes over the choreography at her kid's annual function ! 

And I know many women who take Balvihar and Balvikas classes! Some organize bhajans every week at someone's home and do all the preparations !

Please pour in your contributions !