I have been reading Insurgent, of the Divergent trilogy, for over a month. I just cannot finish the book. I really liked Divergent, but Insurgent seems really slow. I want to finish it so that I can start Gone Girl. My mom just read it and said it was crazy good. I am also reading Bringing Up Bebe, a book about French parenting. I am only a couple chapters in, but it is very interesting to see how different the French view everything regarding pregnancy, child birth, and child rearing.
I am starting to get anxious about going back to work. I want to go back, but I also know that I will miss my baby girl so much. I wish I could wear her to work and not have to be away from her. Ha. In a perfect world, right? I have some specific concerns about continuing to breast feed, pumping at work, and how it will all work out with daycare. I am probably over-thinking the daycare part....I know I am not the first mom to pump and bottle feed at daycare. Any tips and ideas regarding this stuff is greatly appreciated, however!
I still have 10 pounds to lose to get back to my standard weight. I didn't weigh myself regularly before I got pregnant, but I was probably about 5 pounds heavier than I was when I got married. However, I have no motivation to do anything about it. I swore I wouldn't be like this when I was pregnant, but it is way harder to get my butt off the couch and go for a run when there is a snuggly baby to be held and household chores that need to be done. Or crime shows to be watched, if we're being honest.
I love the lamp you bought; I have two for our bedroom! I think a snuggly baby, household chores or crime shows sound preferable to a run any day of the week. :)
ReplyDeleteTarget always has the best stuff. And that is a super cute lamp!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm the same way. I unfortunately was 20lbs heavier than I wanted to be before I got pregnant, so I have quite a bit to go still. I know what I need to do, I just can't help myself! I love sitting home and snuggling with O. This baby stage goes by so fast, I feel like I'll lose it if I don't! haha.
Oh honey, going back to work is so hard, but it really does get easier. I had the hardest time for a week, but every day is better and now I finally feel like my old self again and I really appreciate my time with my baby so much more. It'll be ok! And pumping at work isn't as awful as I thought it'd be either. It was actually a nice little break in my day. I took the iPad with me and watched TV the whole time. Not shabby. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a mother who had some difficulty on the path to motherhood, I never got back to my pre-baby normal self. I ended up giving up on the pumping after 7 months when my intention was to do so for a full year. I enjoyed moments at work. But, honestly, I'd lost my mojo and I found no work project or work perk more meaningful, purposeful or peace-of-mindful than acting as the primary caregiver for our baby and homekeeper for our family. When I finally gave up the job outside the home, the "extra" time became filled with things like caring for your own health (ie, working out, shopping for and preparing fresh meals), researching best practices and options associated with care of baby and supporting a husband who is a new father and single breadwinner, volunteering in the community and setting the tone for our home through the decor, family activities, and social gatherings at our house.
ReplyDeleteI will add that I always assumed that I would be a working mom to my baby/infant/toddler/preschooler and it took me four months before I could say the words outloud that I needed to stop working outside of the home fulltime for a few years. After all, we went through too much to have our wonderful little baby only to end up spending roughly 30 hours a week enjoying him - which most of the time was feeding, bathing and dressing.
After months more of soulsearching and planning, I gave notice.
After one year and two months, the struggle was over. I'd lost my baby weight (found a gym with a childcare center on site, took up walking around the neighborhood whilst pushing baby in stroller and the whole family was eating more healthfully). I'd finally completed some home decorating projects that were in mind for years. Son and I met other families for playdates and library dates regularly. One of those families became wonderful friends with whom we traded babysitting duty so parents could go out without children once a month. Son and I visited my husband at his office or met him for lunch.
I realize that the traditional wife and mother gig is not for everyone (ie, people who don't want to spend their days with their children, people who would be living in poverty without a second income, people without patience or teaching ability), people who would have great difficulty reentering the workforce in their chosen profession, etc.) But, from what I've seen of you via your blog, you seem like a great candidate for the more traditional life - your heart, your husband, your sweet precious angel baby will benefit greatly from it.
I have to say that I did resume work on a part-time basis as our schedules allowed. Also, now that the "baby" is in school, I work as a substitute teacher at an amazing school and could likely jump in full time whenever ready.
By the way, for some adults and babies - Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But, for some adults and babies, - Out of sight, out of mind. Babyhood is only for a season...a very short season. Just a thought...
Going back to work is very hard, but so is staying home. I worked until Bellie was 10 months old, and it was the best decision I could have made. When we're having a rough day now, I can easily think back to the days I worked, and I know I made the right decision - for me!
ReplyDeleteY'all will make the right decision for your family. And you might make one decision and then change your minds. And that's perfectly fine too. You'll learn from each step.
I also pumped for the 10 months I worked. It's hard work, but - for me - it was worth it. I was really fortunate to have a fairly large, private office. I worked in communications, so I could shut my door, pull my pump out, and still work. It was nice to feel like I was being productive while I was also being a cow. :)
Anyhow, whatever you decide, it'll be the right decision for you. And if it's not, you can make a new decision!