'I live my dream to show my kid, you can do it all'

Motherhood can sideline personal dreams — but for some women, it sparked bold reinvention. From rugby and DJing to baking and entrepreneurship, these mothers found new purpose and passion through parenting. Drawing strength from their children, they pursued what once felt out of reach. We speak to a few of them to learn more about their unique journeys.

‘When my daughter claps for me, it’s all worth it’
Motherhood propelled stylist Isha Thakkar to fully pursue her career. “I picked up styling full-fledgedly after becoming a mom,” she said. Her daughter Meher, nearly four, is her biggest cheerleader. “She always says, ‘Bye Mumma, have fun!’” Isha adds, “Even if no one else notices, she’s clapping the loudest.” For Isha, personal fulfilment through work is key to raising a happy, healthy child.

‘My baby tells me she’s proud of me’
After becoming a mother, Swati Sharma left her corporate career to become an ICF Professional Certified Life Coach (PCC). “My daughter was born in 2015 and I quit a year later and found theatre in 2017,” she says. In 2019, she earned her life coach certification in the US. “My daughter, Izaara Kaushik, now 9, is my biggest motivator — her proud smile tells me I’m on the right path.”

‘My daughter is my biggest motivator’

For Jyoti Shaw, motherhood has amplified her creative spirit, particularly in the realm of baking. “I have always been into doing creative things. Cooking is something I really enjoy but recently I picked up my passion for baking too and Adrika, my daughter, makes sure that I channel my passion. She motivates me like no one else and that means the world to me.”

‘A happy woman makes a happy mother’
For Navdha Taparia, motherhood became a launchpad. “I became a mom in Dec 2016. A few months later, I joined rugby and excelled. I started DJing in 2022—it was always a dream,” she said. She believes a happy woman makes a happy mom. To her daughter, she says, “Do what you love.” And her daughter follows her footsteps. Navdha says, “My kid is my BFF & biggest cheerleader.”

‘My passion runs in my veins’
Entrepreneur Natasha Suri slowed down after childbirth but never stopped. “I was always working, just at a different pace. Events and weddings run in my veins, but I recently launched my café too,” she said. For her, personal fulfilment is key to raising her daughter well. “To nurture her, I need to feel satisfied.” Her daughter, in turn, fuels that drive. “She comes to all my events—her presence gives me the strength to juggle everything,” Natasha shared.