My Life as a Working Mom
A couple of weeks ago I started working again, and like I tell everyone: "It's good to be back at work". I don't think I could be a stay-at-home mom. I did it for nearly 3 months and it just was not for me. At first, I felt kind of guilty, "what kind of mother am I if I don't want to be with my baby 24/7??". But after talking to a few moms at work, I don't feel so bad. They told me not to feel bad. Men don't think twice about it, and neither does society, if they go back to work. It's a double standard. Some women are happy to be a stay-at-home mom and they do a very good job at it because they're happy. I like my job so therefore at work I am happy. I'm one of those that needs the balance of both.
I wasn't emotional about going back to work. It's easier for me because Hernan drops Dante off at daycare. And I feel good about the daycare we picked; an at home daycare in our neighborhood. There are kids of different ages there, so it's like he has older brothers and sisters. I think this is great, and because they interact with him he's learning valuable social skills.
The first day back at work I was so busy I didn't even have time to think much about how I miss Dante. At first, I tried working M-R, 9 hrs a day. This didn't work because I wasn't getting home in time to catch Dante for his last feeding. So, I reduced my hours to M-R, 8 hr days. It's nice. I like working 32 hr weeks better than 40 hr weeks, especially with a baby to take of at the same time. It's a nice balance. When I come home and on weekends I really appreciate my time with Dante.
What is a big change from my life before Dante is that I have a real schedule now! Here is what a typical day for me is:
5:30 AM - wake up, get ready for work, feed Dante and/or pump
6:45 AM - leave for work
7:30 AM - arrive at work
9:00 AM - pumping session #1
12:00 PM - pumping session #2
3:00 PM - pumping session #3
4:00 PM - leave work
4:45 PM - pick up Dante
5:00 PM - home. Take care of Dante, clean bottles, get my lunch ready for the next day
7:00 PM - dinner
Notice that exercise is absent from the schedule. This is because I don't have time...once I get home I'm too busy. Once Dante is older, I might have time again. To make up for it, I exercise extra of Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I also park at the end of the parking lot where I walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to my desk and I have to take 2 flights to the pumping room. I watch what I eat, at work this is really easy because I just bring healthy meals and snacks.
So far, I'm liking this working mom gig.
I wasn't emotional about going back to work. It's easier for me because Hernan drops Dante off at daycare. And I feel good about the daycare we picked; an at home daycare in our neighborhood. There are kids of different ages there, so it's like he has older brothers and sisters. I think this is great, and because they interact with him he's learning valuable social skills.
The first day back at work I was so busy I didn't even have time to think much about how I miss Dante. At first, I tried working M-R, 9 hrs a day. This didn't work because I wasn't getting home in time to catch Dante for his last feeding. So, I reduced my hours to M-R, 8 hr days. It's nice. I like working 32 hr weeks better than 40 hr weeks, especially with a baby to take of at the same time. It's a nice balance. When I come home and on weekends I really appreciate my time with Dante.
What is a big change from my life before Dante is that I have a real schedule now! Here is what a typical day for me is:
5:30 AM - wake up, get ready for work, feed Dante and/or pump
6:45 AM - leave for work
7:30 AM - arrive at work
9:00 AM - pumping session #1
12:00 PM - pumping session #2
3:00 PM - pumping session #3
4:00 PM - leave work
4:45 PM - pick up Dante
5:00 PM - home. Take care of Dante, clean bottles, get my lunch ready for the next day
7:00 PM - dinner
Notice that exercise is absent from the schedule. This is because I don't have time...once I get home I'm too busy. Once Dante is older, I might have time again. To make up for it, I exercise extra of Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I also park at the end of the parking lot where I walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to my desk and I have to take 2 flights to the pumping room. I watch what I eat, at work this is really easy because I just bring healthy meals and snacks.
So far, I'm liking this working mom gig.