And now for something completely different...
After 8 years, February 6 will be my last day with Google.
The hardest pill to swallow with the end of my marriage was the reduction in my time with Zoe. It was one thing to lose my wife, but to lose 50% of my daughter as well has been, and will continue to be, a struggle for me.
2014 is the last year before Zoe starts in Prep (Queensland's school grade before "one"). This is my last opportunity to be able to have a big chunk of time with her before she gets swallowed up by the school system. It's ridiculous to be sticking her in full-time long day care if I have an alternative.
And I do have an alternative. I'm in the fortunate financial position of not having a mortgage, or any debt to speak of, and a modest amount of savings. I shall be Daddy Day Care.
It had always been my career goal in life to be a stay at home Dad. I'd wanted to have another child and be the one to stay at home and look after the kids, and allow Sarah to resume her career. Obviously none of that worked out, but there's no reason why I can't be a stay at home Dad for at least this year.
Zoe's at a wonderful age now. We can have a lot of fun together this year. She's going to be in a 5 day a fortnight Kindergarten program (Monday, Tuesday and every other Wednesday) between 8:20am to 2:30pm, so I'm planning on using one of those days for Debian contributions, one of those days for exploring some of the crazy startup ideas I have rattling around in my head, and every second Wednesday to keep the home tidy.
It's going to be a fun, different year for Zoe and I, and I'm so looking forward to it. I'm planning on doing lots of activities from Play at Home Mom, doing lots of baking and we'll be doing Science Friday's. If anyone knows where I can get a toddler-sized lab coat, drop me a line.
I'm hoping I can make time to write up our activities for posterity as well.