Dipika Singh is a blogger, author, content creator, wife, and happy mother who was born and brought up in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. She is an MBA graduate from Alliance Business University. She started her career with Taj Hospitality and then moved to working in MNCs like Deutsche Bank and Australia and New Zealand Bank Corporation (ANZ). She was in Melbourne for two years and later she came back to Mumbai India and continued with her banking job.
She runs a lifestyle blog called “The Gleeful Blogger” wherein she regularly writes on topics such as positive parenting, mental health, and lifestyle.
IcyTales is in conversation with Dipika Singh about her experience as a blogger so far.
Q)What was your motivation behind starting this blog on parenting, mental health, and lifestyle?
Dipika Singh: Even after continuing in banking, I found that I was always inclined towards training. I love meeting new people and training young minds. This made me shift from banking to education and I ended up teaching management subjects in Mumbai University-based colleges.
I decided to take a sabbatical from work when parenthood happened. I had a lot of free time on my hands. It was a new experience for me since I have always been working. It was not a smooth transition for me. That is when my husband and friends suggested I write. I did not even know if I could write. I have always been an avid reader but had no experience in writing.
This is how I began to write. Gradually people started liking my blog. In the beginning, I used to write on social issues such as the condition of women, etc. My blog on “slut shaming” has done really well.
I have also written a book “It’s All Called Love”. Gradually I started writing about parenting, lifestyle, and mental health. I see a lot of parents have various problems with parenthood, especially new parents. So I write about “thoughtful parenting” which means that we don’t force our expectations on our kids and be thoughtful of our own reflection as parents.
Mental health as an issue is very close to me, I myself have experienced some mental health issues in the past and I don’t take it lightly, I see people today use words like “pagal” or “mental” very casually I think that is not correct.
Q)How has been your experience so far as a blogger? Do you feel social media anxiety? If yes then how do you overcome it?
Dipika Singh: I am very comfortable with blogging on my website. I talk about various topics on my blog. As far as social media is concerned, yes there is sometimes I feel social media anxiety. I just go offline for some time as long as I do not feel like coming back.
My social media circle is very positive. I always promote having a small circle that should support you and not pull you down.
Q) Nowadays, many parents are working from home which diminishes the line between home and workspace. How can such parents work efficiently and also take time for their children?
Dipika Singh: There is no right or wrong answer to that. It is very subjective and would depend upon the family dynamics. People who are freelancers are always working from home. It is very important to manage time.
Since we are working from home, our work always takes a back seat. Implementing time management is very important. People can not sit with family around and work. There is always this diminishing line between work and family. So it is important to communicate properly and have a proper timetable.
I created a table for myself and for my daughter too. For example, if I am working from 1-2 p.m., I communicate that to my daughter and I also schedule that in my daughter’s timetable so she would let me focus on my work during that time, and if she needs anything from me, she would wait until that.
This is how things have been working for me and I think it is convenient for everyone.
Q)How according to you can mothers inculcate good habits in young children without making them rebellious?
Dipika Singh: Parents should provide an open environment for children. It means that children should not be scared to share anything with their parents. Children should be able to open up about anything wrong they have done and ask us about how to correct it.
Secondly, we should become role models. We should not only tell children to do this and that, but instead, we should also show them that we are doing that. Children learn from our actions. So instead of just telling them, we should also follow it. For example, if you tell your children to not use bad words but often use them in front of your children, they will end up using them because they see you doing the same.
Q)You have a strong relationship with your daughter. According to you, what is one thing that is the most important skill that a new mother should learn to build a healthy relationship with her kid?
Dipika Singh: Firstly, a mother should be patient with her child. Every motherhood is unique and her experience will be different. Kids have their own mindset, parents should not have unrealistic expectations from them because they are not going to act in a particular manner,
Secondly, one should be open and create a safe environment for the kid. However, it is also important to not over-coccon their kid. They should also allow them to fight their own battles.
Q) Who has been your biggest cheerleader and support?
Dipika Singh: My biggest cheerleader and my support system is my husband. He knows the sacrifices I have made and he acknowledges them. He is my strongest pillar of strength. My daughter is my biggest cheerleader. She looks up to me for everything.
It can take a while to become a published author. It can also be frustrating because, while it’s understandable that you want others to read and love your writing, it can be difficult to move on to the next phase of finding an agent or waiting for editors to respond. Dipika Singh as a person believes strongly in Karma. She believes that small acts of kindness will definitely help us in the long run. We should teach our kids to do random acts of kindness. She also believes in a positive mindset and all the power that comes with it.
