Caregiving Exceeds Office Work

Shaan Puri shares his experience during paternity leave, revealing insights about the challenges of being a primary caregiver versus working a traditional job. His perspective highlights the misconceptions about stay-at-home parenting and how he adapted to a different lifestyle during this period.

Key Points:

• Primary Caregiving vs Traditional Work:

  • Being the primary caregiver is significantly harder than working a regular job
  • The idea that going to work is harder than staying home with kids is "the greatest marketing of all time"

• Shift in Daily Activities:

  • Moved from screen-based work to hands-on caregiving
  • Tasks included changing diapers and cleaning up after children
  • Found creative ways to use time differently than usual work routine

• Creative Pursuits During Leave:

  • Read more books than usual
  • Started playing piano again with kids
  • Explored comedy writing
  • Attended cultural events (stand-up shows, plays)
  • Overcame guilt about taking time for reading during the day

• Personal Growth:

  • Embraced more artistic and cultural activities
  • Shifted from productivity-focused mindset to creative exploration
  • Found new ways to spend time with family
  • Discovered value in activities previously considered "unproductive"

• Perspective on Work-Life Balance:

  • Traditional work can be easier than full-time parenting
  • Stay-at-home parenting requires constant attention and care
  • The experience changed his view on the challenges of primary caregiving