I reached Bangalore, bag and baggage in tow and the baby in my arms. Happy to be heading home but a little apprehensive as well. Apprehensive, because it was a new beginning and I wasn't sure how I would manage as my plans had gone slightly askew. The reason being that one day before leaving, I had decided not to bring the maid along.
"No maid?" asked many well wishers. "Are you sure? When you get there, look for someone as soon as you can".
"All right," I replied hesitantly, "I'll do my best."
The maid situation had been pretty grim in Delhi. Even in the large space that I had, maids and I seemed to be rubbing each other the wrong way. So, in a confined little apartment with no private space, I wasn't sure what would happen.
As it turned out, I couldn't find someone I liked anyway: someone who was gentle, intelligent and professional and didn't come with loads of emotional baggage, advice and opinions.
As it turns out, I find after a month that I'm doing fine without a maid (though I'm functioning quite differently from many Indian homes, where either maids or parents are called upon to babysit).
Small though our apartment is, it is utterly peaceful. The baby and I roam freely from room to room, looking out upon the trees that surround our house, listening to bird song (which initially startled him, he had never heard it so close or loud before!), insect hums and so on. We watch the sun rise through our bedroom window and set through the one in our living room. We walk outside whenever we want, listen to music and crawl on the floor.
I'm learning how to prioritize, how to break up tasks into small steps which take very little time when done gradually, how to put all my gadgets to the best possible use.
The baby is learning how to entertain himself in the time intervals when I can't be with him.
It's not always easy, it's strenuous for sure, but it's also very satisfying.
Yesterday I baked my first bread. Today I'm writing my blog. It's raining outside. My baby is snug in a rug and I'm spending a few happy moments typing.
What more could one ask for?
"No maid?" asked many well wishers. "Are you sure? When you get there, look for someone as soon as you can".
"All right," I replied hesitantly, "I'll do my best."
The maid situation had been pretty grim in Delhi. Even in the large space that I had, maids and I seemed to be rubbing each other the wrong way. So, in a confined little apartment with no private space, I wasn't sure what would happen.
As it turned out, I couldn't find someone I liked anyway: someone who was gentle, intelligent and professional and didn't come with loads of emotional baggage, advice and opinions.
As it turns out, I find after a month that I'm doing fine without a maid (though I'm functioning quite differently from many Indian homes, where either maids or parents are called upon to babysit).
Small though our apartment is, it is utterly peaceful. The baby and I roam freely from room to room, looking out upon the trees that surround our house, listening to bird song (which initially startled him, he had never heard it so close or loud before!), insect hums and so on. We watch the sun rise through our bedroom window and set through the one in our living room. We walk outside whenever we want, listen to music and crawl on the floor.
I'm learning how to prioritize, how to break up tasks into small steps which take very little time when done gradually, how to put all my gadgets to the best possible use.
The baby is learning how to entertain himself in the time intervals when I can't be with him.
It's not always easy, it's strenuous for sure, but it's also very satisfying.
Yesterday I baked my first bread. Today I'm writing my blog. It's raining outside. My baby is snug in a rug and I'm spending a few happy moments typing.
What more could one ask for?
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