For the last several years, my days ran on a clock.

Wake up. Pack lunches. Get the girls ready. Meetings. Deadlines. Pick-ups. Dinner. Bedtime. Repeat.

It was chaotic, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming—but it was familiar.

In a few weeks, that schedule will change completely.

As we move to Australia, I’ve decided to take a break from work and become a stay-at-home mum. Not because I don’t love my career, but because this season of life calls for something different.

This isn’t just a move to another country. It’s a move into a new chapter of motherhood.

Why I’m Choosing to Stay Home

People often ask if I’ll start working immediately after we move.

The answer is no.

Our daughters are still young, and this move is going to be one of the biggest transitions they’ve experienced.

Back home, Kannada was the language they heard every day. Their grandparents, cousins, neighbours, friends—everyone spoke a language they understood.

In Australia, English will become the language of school, playgrounds, and new friendships.

That’s a huge adjustment for little minds.

I want to be there while they find their confidence.

To celebrate the first sentence they speak without hesitation.

To comfort them on the days they miss home.

To remind them that it’s okay to feel lost before they feel settled.

Leaving Behind More Than a House

One thing I’ve realised is that we’re not just leaving India.

We’re leaving a community.

Here, weekends were never empty.

There was always a birthday party, a family lunch, cousins dropping by, grandparents visiting, neighbours checking in, or friends inviting us over.

The girls have grown up surrounded by people who love them.

In Australia, we’ll start with none of that.

No spontaneous visits.

No festivals with extended family.

No familiar faces at every celebration.

We’ll have to build our own village from scratch.

And that takes time.

My New Daily Schedule

Ironically, stepping away from work doesn’t mean life will become less busy.

Instead of meetings, there will be school drop-offs.

Instead of project plans, there will be playdates.

Instead of presentations, there will be library visits, swimming lessons, parks, homework, grocery shopping, and helping two little girls find their place in a brand-new country.

Some days will feel productive.

Some days, success will simply mean everyone goes to bed smiling.

And that’s enough.

What I’m Looking Forward To

I’m looking forward to slowing down.

To being present for the little things that work often made me rush through.

Packing lunchboxes without watching the clock.

School pick-ups without worrying about the next meeting.

Exploring new parks.

Making new friends—both for the girls and for myself.

Creating new traditions as a family.

It’s Not Goodbye to My Career

Taking a career break doesn’t mean giving up on my ambitions.

I’ve worked hard to build my career, and I know I’ll return when the time is right.

Right now, though, my biggest project is helping two little girls feel at home in a country that’s completely new to them.

Careers can pause.

Childhood doesn’t.

Years from now, I probably won’t remember every meeting I attended.

But I hope my girls remember that when everything around them changed, home still felt familiar—because I was there with them, every step of the way.