Its been too long since the last update but things have been crazy busy here. With my project coming closer to Go Live there was a lot of pressure at work In May there were many 2 day trips to Geneva on a weekly basis and then long hours at work in preparation. We also had many back to back holidays - can't complain but added to the busyness.
We were in Bellagio for a week in april, then in Budapest for the May 1st long weekend. Then in Madrid for the May end long weekend. Then Corsica, Sardinia and Amalfi for 2 weeks in end June-July and then back to Milan to meet my brother for a long weekend after.
And in between we had 2 sets of visitors.
Anyway now the kids are with the hubby en route to India where i will join them after 10 days so i have some free time now! They left today. S was very sad and crying since yesterday. She asked me many times why i need to do this job and why its so important and why i can't come with them. Its so hard when the kids are sad. I know they will enjoy with their grand parents and cousins and uncles while i am slogging away here (I kid you not i will work over this weekend) but in the larger scheme of things I know she is right. My job is only a past time for me. Its not of that responsiblity or interest level of what I was doing in India. I dont have serious career prospects with this job and dont earn enough to sustain a family - just enough for the jam on top.
But its important for me - i like to go to work and apply myself in learning new things. Of course if we had stayed back in India i woudl be much more senior and have a more meaningful job, but I like this job too, and it comes without the pressures.
The best news is that from sept 15th i have been able to negotiate working only 70% that is from 8:30-2:30 everyday so i am at work when the girls are in school and with them after school.
To me this is a win win. I know i will sacrifice on my exercise, gym time, lunch with other moms and other fun and exciting stuff but we cannot have it all . You have to decide what are the 2-3 things most important to you and if you can have them then i think you have it all. So for me, being able to work in a meaningful job and also spend time with the kids are the most important things.
So its ok for me if i have to make S and A and myself (yes i was very sad too to come home to an empty house tonight) a little sad. Because by not insisting of having a 1 month holiday in July-August i was able to negotiate a better deal for the long term.
Anyway enough about that .The girls have crossed a few milestones in this period- more in the next post. They will go by bus to school from next year and are thrilled to have their best friends in their class. I have been reading a lot over the last few months - hard books on the way to office and Kindle books at night when the girls are falling asleep. My latest are The Book Thief, A Fine Balance, The Ice Candy Man, The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair - enjoyed all of these.
Bis bald (till later!)
We were in Bellagio for a week in april, then in Budapest for the May 1st long weekend. Then in Madrid for the May end long weekend. Then Corsica, Sardinia and Amalfi for 2 weeks in end June-July and then back to Milan to meet my brother for a long weekend after.
And in between we had 2 sets of visitors.
Anyway now the kids are with the hubby en route to India where i will join them after 10 days so i have some free time now! They left today. S was very sad and crying since yesterday. She asked me many times why i need to do this job and why its so important and why i can't come with them. Its so hard when the kids are sad. I know they will enjoy with their grand parents and cousins and uncles while i am slogging away here (I kid you not i will work over this weekend) but in the larger scheme of things I know she is right. My job is only a past time for me. Its not of that responsiblity or interest level of what I was doing in India. I dont have serious career prospects with this job and dont earn enough to sustain a family - just enough for the jam on top.
But its important for me - i like to go to work and apply myself in learning new things. Of course if we had stayed back in India i woudl be much more senior and have a more meaningful job, but I like this job too, and it comes without the pressures.
The best news is that from sept 15th i have been able to negotiate working only 70% that is from 8:30-2:30 everyday so i am at work when the girls are in school and with them after school.
To me this is a win win. I know i will sacrifice on my exercise, gym time, lunch with other moms and other fun and exciting stuff but we cannot have it all . You have to decide what are the 2-3 things most important to you and if you can have them then i think you have it all. So for me, being able to work in a meaningful job and also spend time with the kids are the most important things.
So its ok for me if i have to make S and A and myself (yes i was very sad too to come home to an empty house tonight) a little sad. Because by not insisting of having a 1 month holiday in July-August i was able to negotiate a better deal for the long term.
Anyway enough about that .The girls have crossed a few milestones in this period- more in the next post. They will go by bus to school from next year and are thrilled to have their best friends in their class. I have been reading a lot over the last few months - hard books on the way to office and Kindle books at night when the girls are falling asleep. My latest are The Book Thief, A Fine Balance, The Ice Candy Man, The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair - enjoyed all of these.
Bis bald (till later!)
