After much deliberation and debate the decision to return to work has finally been taken, the job offer is in hand and the dates of joining finalized...
But none of the above is possible without putting in place the internal hiring process at home. I can now offer free (maybe unwanted!) advice to any mum returning to work after a long sabbatical especially in Mumbai. Here goes:
1. Smooth talk your driver into extending his work hours. Ask about his children, wife and mother for three weeks prior to the smooth talking. Eventually he will cave - ofcourse he will ask for a 30 % raise and you will give it. Its the only way you can decide to work in a location 30 kms from your home which will take 1 hour to reach in summer and 1.5-infinite hours in the monsoons...
2. Improve relations with your neighbours and friends - they are going to be your new family and will take care of your child while you are away - unless you are the fortunate few who have parents / in-laws close by who are willing to put their lives on hold to take care of your children
3. Enroll your child in physically and mentally stimulating activities and classes that he likes....please do not force your opinion on your child...thats the least you can do if you are leaving him behind for atleast 10 hours (as you will notice time and again, it is really gnawing at me right now)
4. And finally, the most important of them all, hire a great nanny...I just made that hire yesterday...its probably too soon to tell but I live in hope...
Clearly a large part of what I earn is going to be spent in maintaining some level of status quo in our lives...small price to pay for renewed contact with the corporate world, conversation with adults and higher intellectual stimulation!!
But none of the above is possible without putting in place the internal hiring process at home. I can now offer free (maybe unwanted!) advice to any mum returning to work after a long sabbatical especially in Mumbai. Here goes:
1. Smooth talk your driver into extending his work hours. Ask about his children, wife and mother for three weeks prior to the smooth talking. Eventually he will cave - ofcourse he will ask for a 30 % raise and you will give it. Its the only way you can decide to work in a location 30 kms from your home which will take 1 hour to reach in summer and 1.5-infinite hours in the monsoons...
2. Improve relations with your neighbours and friends - they are going to be your new family and will take care of your child while you are away - unless you are the fortunate few who have parents / in-laws close by who are willing to put their lives on hold to take care of your children
3. Enroll your child in physically and mentally stimulating activities and classes that he likes....please do not force your opinion on your child...thats the least you can do if you are leaving him behind for atleast 10 hours (as you will notice time and again, it is really gnawing at me right now)
4. And finally, the most important of them all, hire a great nanny...I just made that hire yesterday...its probably too soon to tell but I live in hope...
Clearly a large part of what I earn is going to be spent in maintaining some level of status quo in our lives...small price to pay for renewed contact with the corporate world, conversation with adults and higher intellectual stimulation!!
