Being a Working Mom
Whether you work full time because you have to in order to make ends meet, or because you just love what you do, once you become a working mom, your life will be changed forever. Gone are the days where your alarm wakes you up at 6:30 am, and you have the option of hitting snooze for a few extra minutes of slumber.
Today my day started at 4:20am when my son, who is now 5 months old decided he desperately needed the dummy that had fallen out of his mouth. After popping his dummy back into his mouth I drifted back to sleep for another hour until he decided he was ready to start the day. So, we get up. Baby gets his morning feed, mommy tries to get a shower, and get herself together for work, and off we go to daycare.
Once baby is at daycare, I grab coffee from the coffee shop, because let’s face it, I will never make it through this day without some caffeine I arrive to work, and on time! I think to myself “I can do this whole working mom thing, no problem!” However, that confidence quickly fades away when I see my inbox, and my to-do list from the previous day that hasn’t been touched. I suddenly miss my maternity leave. However, the next thing I know my eight hour work day is over, and it’s off to daycare to get my baby. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my baby smile at me when I pick him up from daycare. That happiness quickly fades away as he cries the entire way home because he either is hungry, has a wet nappie, or is tired. After we get home, the next two hours are the fastest two hours of the day. Play with him, feed him, change him, bathe him, and put him to bed.
Once the baby is in bed, dinner has been made, bottles have been cleaned, the diaper bag is packed for the next day, and it’s nice and quiet, I can finally sit down and watch some television with my husband. After about 5 minutes of sitting on the couch, I think to myself, no way, I am too tired. So, I head to bed and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. A few hours later, the baby starts crying, and it all starts over again…
There are days when I think I am Wonder Woman. I juggle my work, take care of the baby, clean the house, cook dinner, easy peasy. Then, there are days when work is stressful, and the baby is cranky, the house is messy, dinner has yet to be cooked, and I think to myself, how can I do this? Is it really worth it? But to all the working moms out there who are asking themselves the same question. It is worth it. Trying to balance work and life can be tricky, but just remember that you are working to be able to provide for your family, and there is nothing more honourable than that! So hang in there. You will check items off your to-do list, answer all those emails, and then go home, change nappies, and love on your precious baby, and once you get the hang of it, being a working mom will feel completely normal.