- I am working 24*7, 7 days a week, for the last 9 months of my life.
- I do not get any weekly off, rather my work increases on the days of festivals, national holidays.
- I do not get to sit at a place for more than, say, 5 minutes, have to always be on my toes, running around.
- There is no financial payout – no salary or perk or incentive.
- My appraisals keep happening every day, every hour, every minute.
- There is no fixed time for lunch. I am lucky that I have never had to miss my lunch though dinner gets missed out almost once a week, and breakfast is completely ruled out.
- I have not slept continuously for more than 2-3 hours, at max, for more than last 3 years of my life, as my work requires me to be awake at all god-forsaken hours.
- I do not get to toy with a smart-phone during working hours, which is 24*7, rather I do not have a smartphone at all, as my job does not require it as such.
- I do not get time even for a loo break and have to hold back for hours if my work so requires.
Wondering, what is the connecting link between the title of the blog and the above statements? Do I sound like a typical rat-racer for whom the work is worship or what (barring the statement of no financial payouts)?
I tell you, I am a stay-at-home father for my twin daughters and I am living my dream.
- I get to be a part of my daughters’ growing up, every day, every hour, every minute.
- I get to do the most rewarding job – being with my children – feeding, playing, putting to sleep, waking up, cleaning up, bathing, dressing, putting up with tantrums, pulling my hair out.
- I get paid in hugs and kisses at the most unexpected times and also when I cry for help.
- I try to decipher the health of my children from the colour/ texture/quantity/smell of their poop.
- I feel awkward, I provide entertainment, I feel out-of-place, I feel stupid – wherever / whenever I go out.
- I have realized how many corners can a house have, how many minutes can be in an hour and how many hours in a day and how at times, sun sets even before I realize that sun rise did happen.
- I am getting to know how to feel dead-tired and ecstatic, simultaneously, well almost, unless I bump into a wall with my eyes open.
- I have started to know my own self better with all my weaknesses staring at me, point-blank and nowhere to hide for me.
- I have started to realize how difficult a woman’s life is, how important a woman’s life is, how much taken for granted a woman’s life is.
I tell you, I am a stay-at-home father for my twin daughters and I am living my dream.
Welcome to my blog, where I try to chronicle my journey of parenting, joy and distress, anguish and fulfilment, happiness and misery, frustration and bliss; all at the same time as I try at growing up together with my daughters.