Back to Work
I am back at work and could not be any more relieved.
It is difficult to imagine that it has been four weeks of paternity leave. Difficult to imagine because all of that time melted together into a slurry of non-productive time spent existing and keeping a baby alive. While there are moments in which AO did cute things, the remaining 99% of the time was being cried at or stuck on the couch whilst all the things I could have been doing instead taunted me from another life.
The primary problem was that AO was incapable of sleeping in a crib. So he had to sleep on me, if he were to sleep at all. And when he wasn't sleeping he was generally fussy or otherwise required me to walk around the house, which was worse than him just sleeping on me. Now, in the final analysis it might be acid reflux that prevented him from sleeping soundly on his back, in which case I can't be too mad. Well, it's tough to justify being mad at all considering his tiny-person status.
Nevertheless, I achieved essentially nothing in those four weeks. At least, nothing during the day. I actually cut the shit out of a ton of weeds outside and got contractors to install a privacy fence along half of the yard. But gaming wise? Practically nothing. I was on my phone a lot, but wanted nothing more than to spend at least 30 minutes on my computer doing anything else.
As mentioned though, I am back at work and feeling useful, or at least being in charge of my own body. The babysitter we found has thus far been fantastic, both in the "existing 4 minutes down the road" and the "almost criminally undercharging us" senses. Like, we're talking $120/week. We did a background check and checked her references and such, so I'm not entirely sure whether it's a simple case of not knowing the market rate or what. Considering that I was willing to pay $250/week for daycare, a difference of over a car and student loan payment per month ($520), I barely even want to think about it changing, lest I tempt fate.
The real test will be how Jess and I divide duties after work. It makes sense for the person watching the baby all day to get a break in the evening compared to the working parent, but now we're both working. Will we alternate days? Split the evenings? Play it by ear? We're definitely getting stressed more than we have before, but have thus far successfully moderated our feelings. I am hopeful this continues for, oh, the next 18 years or so.
It is difficult to imagine that it has been four weeks of paternity leave. Difficult to imagine because all of that time melted together into a slurry of non-productive time spent existing and keeping a baby alive. While there are moments in which AO did cute things, the remaining 99% of the time was being cried at or stuck on the couch whilst all the things I could have been doing instead taunted me from another life.
The primary problem was that AO was incapable of sleeping in a crib. So he had to sleep on me, if he were to sleep at all. And when he wasn't sleeping he was generally fussy or otherwise required me to walk around the house, which was worse than him just sleeping on me. Now, in the final analysis it might be acid reflux that prevented him from sleeping soundly on his back, in which case I can't be too mad. Well, it's tough to justify being mad at all considering his tiny-person status.
Nevertheless, I achieved essentially nothing in those four weeks. At least, nothing during the day. I actually cut the shit out of a ton of weeds outside and got contractors to install a privacy fence along half of the yard. But gaming wise? Practically nothing. I was on my phone a lot, but wanted nothing more than to spend at least 30 minutes on my computer doing anything else.
As mentioned though, I am back at work and feeling useful, or at least being in charge of my own body. The babysitter we found has thus far been fantastic, both in the "existing 4 minutes down the road" and the "almost criminally undercharging us" senses. Like, we're talking $120/week. We did a background check and checked her references and such, so I'm not entirely sure whether it's a simple case of not knowing the market rate or what. Considering that I was willing to pay $250/week for daycare, a difference of over a car and student loan payment per month ($520), I barely even want to think about it changing, lest I tempt fate.
The real test will be how Jess and I divide duties after work. It makes sense for the person watching the baby all day to get a break in the evening compared to the working parent, but now we're both working. Will we alternate days? Split the evenings? Play it by ear? We're definitely getting stressed more than we have before, but have thus far successfully moderated our feelings. I am hopeful this continues for, oh, the next 18 years or so.