The time is drawing nearer when I will return to work. It is beginning to haunt me. I don’t think the pain will be quite as sharp this time as it was with Lauca. Not because I won’t grieve the seperation from a baby as much but because this time I know life goes on. And with baby-making and the consequent career breaks out of the way we can concentrate on our next goal, which is becoming grown ups about money.
Right now I am executing the delicate and complex act that is putting together (and negotiating) various care arrangements for Cormac and Lauca (some seperate and some together) for the days when I will be at work. The whole thing resembles a house of cards. For us, each day of the week will involve an entirely different care arrangement, and then each arrangement must be balanced carefully in a structure with the others. Why hasn’t the organising of care arrangements for the children been more of a shared undertaking between my partner and I? Yes, I ask that question myself sometimes.
It’s a harrowing transition — back to work. Been there. It blows goats.
And I don’t know why dudes don’t help more with finding childcare. Kind of makes me think they just have no idea how important and hard it is. I guess they’re just used to someone else taking care of the babies (i.e. mama) and it’s no big deal.
motherhood must be hard. but isn’t it rewarding? I mean to have such a beautiful baby and something to be proud of.
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[…] is a genuine question on her part (and I so don’t want to start a flame war) but when I wrote a post yesterday on the work involved in returning to work after having a baby I received this comment: […]
[…] Getting in place care arrangements for Lauca and Cormac, and most significantly getting Cormac used to his care arrangements. (I cannot understate my anxiety around this aspect). On another note, I will be introducing some bottle feeds during the day for Cormac when I start work and I have never used formula before, how do I pick a brand and type of formula? What should I consider?. That is not a rhetorical question. […]
[…] it. But returning to work after our second baby I would be lying if I didn’t say a major part of this process has been negotiating with my partner about what needs doing and who needs to do […]