Oh the Places I Can Go

Since I decided to stay at home, the happiest person here at our house (aside from me, of course) is my 5-year old daughter, Ali. She's happy that I am here (well, most of the time) to greet her when she comes home from school.

When I was still working in the corporate world, I'd only see Ali in the mornings when I prepare her for school. At night, when I come home from work, she's already asleep. So it was only pretty much on weekends that we got to spend more time together.

In the last 11 months that I have been home, Ali has enjoyed having me around. We play sungka or pretend to be princesses, we color and draw, make up stories, and go to the park every now and then. She's grown accustomed to my face that every time I talk to her and tell her that I might go back to the office, she pouts and looks extremely sad. She says she will miss me and that I should stay home with her till she's a 100 years old.

A few weeks back, I got an actual job offer to be a Research and Business Development Manager at a BPO firm. In the end, I declined the offer due to a 101 reasons. I decided I can still continue to stay at home and explore other options that will not require me to be holed up in an office from 9am to 6pm and beyond.

I look at Ali's face and realize that it will take a highly attractive offer to get me out of the house -- an offer which will be a no-brainer and which would really be such a waste not to accept.

I was talking to Ali yesterday and she said that I can only go to the following places: the grocery, church, retreats (not more than 3 nights), meetings, and to go out with my friends. As an afterthought, she added: "You can go to the computer room too."

I then press, but what if I find a job that I really, really like? Ali thinks, pauses, has a sad expression on her face and then says: "Then you can go. But only if you really really like it."

My daughter is wise, don't you think?