About two weeks ago I returned to work after enjoying nine months of
paid maternity leave. Thankfully I got to return to work part-time after
four weeks of shared parental leave with the Mr, who is now enjoying
three months with PJ (and without my constant interference).
Ah, socialist capitalism, I do so very much love you.
Frankly, dear readers, I was genuinely worried about returning back to
work. How would PJ be without me? How would the Mr. cope? And,
personally, how would
I manage without PJ? Would I like working? Would I
be able to hack being a working mom?
I'm only two weeks in but so far the answers are all pretty good. How is
PJ doing without me? Lets just say that 'Da-De' is only growing in
popularity in these parts. Naps are going great. Eating is going well.
Playtime is getting rougher. Confidence is growing. Little man is doing
very well.
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| My men doing their man thing. |
And the Mr.? Yeah, he was a bit overwhelmed at first and expressed a
good amount of concern about how repetitive the days with a baby are.
But I do think he is enjoying the time and I know he is loving the time
without me putting my nose into his parenting all the time. He might
have mentioned that aspect of me working a few times.
Okay, more than a few times.
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| I do not recommend this approach. |
And me? Allow me to pontify:
Being with a baby all day every day is physically exhausting. The
walking, the crawling, the rocking, the soothing, the constant touch -
especially the constant touch. Now? I sit in a comfy chair at a desk. I
may walk to a coffee machine or a meeting room or not. The most physical
contact I get may be a surprise hug from a colleague stoked to see me
back at work. But mostly my body is just that: mine.
As physically challenging as it may be, being with a baby all day is at
best intellectually draining. Honestly, it is mind-numbing: eat, play,
sleep, eat, play, sleep, eat, play...you get the point. As an employee
of one of the world's most successful software companies there is
nothing but intellectual stimulation going on. Every conversation, every
email demands that my brain focuses, digs through numerous sources and
mounds of data, to work towards understanding and then begin
considering, reevaluating, correcting (myself), estimating,
planning...you get the point.
Oh, and for four hours a day, I get to go to the bathroom all by myself,
with the door closed, for as long as I'd like. No babies climbing on my
legs or whining outside the door. No rush because PJ has bumped his
head or fallen down or whatever it is that he does as soon as I'm
sitting on the toilet. Seriously, who would have guessed that a solo
trip to the bathroom would be a highlight of returning to work?
But its not the best part about working. The
best part is returning to
my little man. Seeing his smile and hearing his giggle when I walk
through the door. Holding him close and smelling his skin for the first
time in five hours. Enjoying being part of that oh-so-special eat, play,
sleep routine. Or, like tonight, spending almost 45 minutes on the
night-time sleep routine and not only enjoying every single minute of
it, but being especially thankful for the opportunity to be the person
holding my little boy close, rocking him gently, and singing softly as
he drifts into sleep.
That is the best part of returning to work. The gratitude.
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| The baby outranks the computer. |
xo
Only thing is: the Mr. didn't get the reference at first...although my sister, brother-in-law, and I were all laughing about it. For a while. Like, minutes. 
