Wake up before the baby does.
Check if the house help is coming.
Feed the baby. Change the diaper.
Wait — did she just sneeze?
Groceries need ordering, vegetables need chopping, meals need cooking… and the day has only just begun.

For 33-year-old Mangala Venkatesh, a millennial mother, this was her reality not too long ago. Her daughter is six now, but the memories of those chaotic mornings are still vivid.

A teacher by profession, Mangala says her mind is constantly occupied even when she has no work to get done physically. “The only moment I relax is when I hit the bed to sleep at night. More than physical exhaustion, I think being a mother is more exhausting mentally,” shares Mangala, who had given up her career for six years after having her baby. “However, I have no regrets for doing so, because I enjoy motherhood as much as I enjoy teaching,” she smiles.

She has restarted her professional life after a long gap and couldn’t be happier to have taken that step. “All thanks to my ever-supportive husband and understanding six-year-old daughter, I was able to resume what I love – Teaching!” she smiles.

This Mother’s Day, The Better India spoke to mothers across generations to explore what motherhood looks like — and feels like — through their eyes. How have things changed? What’s remained the same? And what does being a mother really mean today?

The Balancing act: How this millennial mom juggles office meetings & diaper duties

For 30-year-old Saumya Chawla Nagpal, life is a constant dance between toddler tantrums and work calls — all while trying to remember if she ordered enough milk for the day. A Delhi-based entrepreneur and mother to a spirited 2-year-old, Kimaya, Saumya says it’s her “village” — her husband, in-laws, and parents — that makes it all possible.

“Honestly, I have relied so heavily on my husband, in-laws and parents,” she shares with gratitude.

Even now, Saumya looks back at the to-do lists saved on her phone from when Kimaya was born — digital reminders of how she survived the chaos of early motherhood. “My notes were filled with all the checklists for the day. Today I go back to them and read and realise how beautifully I have managed the days I was a ‘new mom,’” she smiles.

Each list was a lifeline — “what groceries I am supposed to buy for that day, how much milk I must pump for my baby, how much I had pumped during the day, when is the next feed and so much more,” she recalls.

“Mom’s brain works like this: We think of doing one task and the next minute we forget it. That’s how it has always been for me,” she laughs.

While her........

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