Ok so I started writing this blog weeks ago when I returned to work after 10 weeks of maternity leave. …I did not plan on it being this long between my blog entries, but I did not anticipate just how hectic my life would be as a working mom.
Here’s how my work day usually goes
- Wake up
- The time I wake up varies depending on what time Omari wakes up (or how many times I hit snooze) but it’s usually between 5-6 am
- Pump and/or feed Omari
- He is usually hungry around this time so if my boobs are full and I need to pump anyway I will breast feed him (oh yea somehow I’m able to breast feed normally again with no pain… we’ll thank his chiropractor sessions for that)
- If its not time for him to eat yet I’ll pump so I don’t have to do it right when I get to work
- Get ready for work
- Get Omari ready for daycare
- Put work bag and Omari’s bag in the car (hopefully these things are already packed the night before)
- Put Omari in the car
- Drop Omari at daycare
- Head to work
- During my work day I probably pump twice, otherwise my boobs will get hard as rocks
- Work day ends
- If I left work at a decent hour I go home first, shower, or do some kind of house cleaning
- If I leave work late I go sit in traffic for an hour or so and go straight to the daycare to pick Omari up before they close at 6:30 pm.
- After I pick Omari up who knows what happens…. you know what happens? Whatever Omari wants to do lol
My biggest challenge returning to work has to be getting out the house on time. Where I used to give myself about two hours to get up and get together, now I have to give myself at least 3 hours to get Omari and I together.
Tips on getting out of the house on time:
- Pack your work bag the night before
- Pack your child’s daycare bag the night before
- Prepare all bottles for daycare the night before
- at most daycares all bottles have to be prepared and labeled with their name, whether it’s breastmilk or formula, and the date
- pack your breast pump and all breast pump accessories if you are breast feeding the night before
- … see a trend here? THE NIGHT BEFORE!
- Lay your work clothes out the night before
- pick out your child’s clothes the night before
Basically the key is to be prepared because if you try to do all of these things in the morning before work you will either have to get up at 3 am or you will be extremely late for work.
I was honestly ready to return to work after being stuck in the house for 10 weeks (you start to go a little stir crazy, at least I did). There are challenges in being a working mom because at times it can feel like working two full time jobs but I love getting up in the morning and going to go focus on my career. I always thought that I would jump at the chance at being a stay at home mom, and while I don’t think I would mind it, after actually becoming a mom I see that being a stay at home mom is an incredibly hard job and my hat goes off to those who do it. I love my son, and I miss him all day while I am gone but what can I say, I need a break from him during the day to be just me, Christina.
Mommy Prays 