BAMBI Magazine May 2026
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Dear BAMBI families,
I wish everyone comfort and peace of mind in these especially trying times.
Our theme for this month, “Seasons of Work and Care”, could not be more on-point for the phase I have reached in life. As I think about what this means to me and my family, I remember the first few months of my shift from being a full-time working expat to a stay-at-home-mom: I went from traveling all around Asia meeting C-level executives from across the region to making my way across Sukhumvit in search of playgroups for my daughter where I met parents from across the globe—every single one of them trying to navigate parenthood while living in a foreign country.
It was brutal, mentally and emotionally. Seeing my old colleagues’ work photos online made me question if I had made the right decision leaving a job I loved and enjoyed so much. They reminded me of what I was missing out on career-wise. Why did I have to choose? Why did I need to leave my old self for this new life?
It took a lot of soul-searching and emotional healing to reaffirm my reasons, and to finally understand what success meant to me in this season of my life. I look at my daughter, and I know deep in my heart that I made the best choice for her and our family.
Fast forward almost eight years and I am back in the workforce. Success feels very different now: having a fulfilling day at work and coming back home in time for dinner; going on business trips and doing fun things with my daughter on the weekends; attending client meetings online, while being able to rearrange my schedule to attend school programs.
As I look back on those years I spent at home, I know they gave me the biggest triumph of my life: time. Time with my child. Time getting to know her personality. Time to witness her childhood up close from a front-row seat.
Returning to my “old self” taught me something vital: I did not lose my identity; I redefined it. Success varies in different seasons of life, and whenever we feel lost and unsure, all we need to do is remember who we are doing it for.
Wishing you success in whichever season of your life you are currently in.
Sassy Bairan
BAMBI Benefits Coordinator