Bidaee

I had been lucky enough to get a six month maternity leave. I spent it at Mumbai, my parents' place. I spent a month preparing myself for the D day.

I would leave Anush for 10 minutes and go off for a walk since that was all I could manage
She was very cooperative about starting on other foods ( after a tip from our maid who suggested that a baby can be fed better if she was lying down on your stretched legs.) It seemed dangerous at first but in a day I got the knack of it.

I came to Chennai in early January. That was exciting because it meant coming back to my own home and to Navy. Navy had a really nice welcome planned for us.

We identified a maid pretty quickly - luckily a very seasoned one. ( browsing helped)
My grandma came over to oversee the maid as we are not okay with trusting the baby with a nanny alone.

I left her for a half day just the day prior to my returning to work. I spent time getting my hair back in shape for corporate life. ( yes I had not even taken time off to visit the parlour in the preceding 6 months- in my urge to spend all the time possible with Anush) I would have come back with one leg pedicured- so anxious was I at the parlour.

Despite the preparation and Navy constantly teasing me to make me feel lighter, it was pure torture the first day back at work- a mixture of fear & confusion. I did not call home since i was sure I would break down if I did and run back to Anush- a tough task considering my home is 16 kms away from office

I wished I was in Sweden where they have long paternity and maternity leave
I wished I had been self employed
I wished I had pursued my engineering and got a flexi timing or a work form home software job- i still do

But then it got better. The first month I tried and got home a little early. My boss granted me the favour of not having to travel out of station for almost all of last year ( though my job demands it)

You may have seen my posts on my first night outs. Now I have managed it three times so far. (Munnar, Raipur and Ahmedabad) And will shortly have to do 3 nights away at a stretch-S'pore- am still a little nervous! I hope Anush remembers me when I get back. I draw strength from the fact that Navy travels often and she is all the more affectionate when he gets back.

This prompted this post.