Turkish Businesswoman to Stay At Home

When living in Istanbul, I lived next to this very beautiful, very sweet Turkish woman who moved onto campus from her high-powered job in center city. It was like a light came into town the second year.

I distinctly remember seeing her and knowing that I loved her. She had style and that she knew how to use it.

Any time I fall in love with someone, I am never sure how to approach them because I don't want to be wrong about them and I also don't want to say the wrong thing and lose the chance of bonding with a really cool person. It is like knowing you want to marry the person in friendship and not knowing how to get up to exchanging rings.

At first I wasn't sure whether she spoke English. That would make my dreams of friendship more difficult.

One day I saw her in her backyard with her beautiful backyard patio set, and I found some bravery and dipped into the hummus of what I learned in my beginner Turkish class. She responded and then we shared in a silent moment of positive body language in the world of partial lingual understanding.

I was so proud - I at least communicated a smile.

Then, after a second attempt to further the conversation, she uttered perfect English in return.

I felt so dumb for not attempting my native tongue first. All I could do was laugh at myself, and all the beautiful Ayse did was continue to speak to me in Turkish every time I saw her after this first meeting...and I loved her for it.

Ayse is only one half of a super-stylish couple who took the plunge recently and had their first child - a beautiful baby boy. Here is Ayse's interview on choosing to stay home with her little one:

Why did you leave your job?

I decided to leave because I was bored, I had enough savings, I had been married twice and my first marriage ended because of my private corporate banking job.

I left because, we moved to the lojman (on campus neighborhood for a private school), and my job was 70km (about 55 miles) away from my new home.

What are some of the biggest rewards from being at home?

The biggest reward is I can look after Omer, we are always together, and I don't have to worry about a nanny. (Editor's side note: I love this because almost everyone who can afford it has a nanny and I love that she WANTS to stay at home and is so drawn to it).

How has life changed for you?

It is only that I am living a less-social life now, but the thing is there was no way of being that social with a baby.

Is it hard living on one income?

No, but we would have to ask Tumay about whether it is hard to be on one income or not. I don't think so, otherwise he would tell me to go back to work again.

My life is slower now, as I wanted. Moving to one income didn't change my life, I have my credit cards (:)). I think we are able to save money, since we don't pay rent. I miss nothing about work.

Would you ever go back to work?

I would never do the same job again, but I may return back to a low profile job other than being a marketing manager, I would'nt care.

How is your relationship with your family like since the baby's arrival?

My mom is lovely, she comes whenever we need her, it just happened once after the delivery. We went to skiing for a full day, she came home at 7 in the morning with my sister. They stayed with Omer until 8 at night. They had a great time.

Do you ever regret your decision to leave?

I don't regret my decision. I think most mothers are running away from their kids back to work, and it makes me sad to think about that.

What are the benefits of staying at home?

Benefit, hmmm, I really dont know. We should ask Omer. You should see him, he is great baby. (Editor's note: I LOVE this answer - LOVE it!)

Ayse with her son