After saying goodbye to the family, I continued my morning run. I felt sad, lonely, missing them badly.
I felt better after my gym session. I enjoyed surrounded by people as I’d be alone at home.
I decluttered Lizzy’s room. I went to facial. I came home and had a late yummy lunch. This plate x2: toast with chickpea “tuna” salad with broccoli. Eating alone allowed me to try new combos that I know the family wouldn’t like.
Then I meal planned for the week and went to groceries store. I’ll take note of how much $$ I’d spend on groceries for myself.
When I came home, our helper Sri asked to talk to me. She said (while tearing) that she’s pregnant!!! 😆
I know she looks like putting some weight, but never crossed my mind that she’s pregnant. I asked her when is the due date: August! What????!!! She’s 7 months pregnant and I didn’t even notice? I feel ashamed.
She felt ashamed too. She knew it for 4 months and didn’t dare to tell me, because she’s afraid I’ll fire her. She was too concerned as she has 3 other kids (this pregnant is not planned) and she really needs this income to support the family. She apologized for not telling me before. She said her sister will come to work while she takes care of the newborn, probably for 2 months, and then her mom will take care of the baby. She cannot afford to lose this job. I told her do not worry, we will figure it out.
This news has shaken me not because she didn’t tell me, but because she was concerned that I wouldn’t understand and fire her. I know this is not because I am a bad employee, but rather the norm in this society. That women are at risk of losing their job if they have kids. Maybe Sri herself has experienced that before. I feel so sorry for her to carry the heavy weight for the last 4 months. I wish I was more attentive to her and created the environment that she felt comfortable to tell me.
Anyway…. after the news, I was taken down the spirit to go to the farewell party but my friend insisted that I go for a while. It’s in my same building (same elevator), so I can leave anytime and get back to my comfy PJ.
I am glad I went because I met a colleague who spent months in Antartica (Argentina) doing global warming experiments. He’s a microbiologist. I felt so amazed by how cool his job was. Fascinating things. And then I asked him: after all those exciting things you did there, why did you come to xx? to write report??? hahahaha
I left the party around 8pm fully dosed with social time. To wind down, I watched an episode of Succession and went to bed 10pm (later than usual as I thought I don’t need to wake up at 4:30am as to have silent morning).
Our New Journey 
Congratulations to Sri, and thank you for sharing with us the situation with society. I am not surprised- Russia functions the same way. I am sure you are good to work for and your family is welcoming. Good thing that Sri has a sister and mom to help her. I’ve never had a helper or a cleaner or a nanny but I think those people really become part of your family after a while.
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How sad for your employee. I am sure you took a huge weight off her shoulders by being willing to continue to employ her. I imagine their financial situation may be quite precarious. The way women are treated when having children is so terrible in many parts of the world – including the US. I’m glad my firm is supportive but they can be so generous (16 weeks fully paid) because it’s a male dominated industry. They do offer parental leave so men can take it, too, but I only know of a couple of men who have taken it. Most take 2-3 weeks if that as long as it’s not around earnings season or something like that.
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Oof, this is tough for Sri that she was afraid to tell you about her pregnancy. I am so glad you could “ease” her worry now that she had the courage to tell you.
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