Back to work

The idea of returning to work started poping into my head shortly after the New Year, after I stopped breast-feeding (with all the brestfeeding problems I had, I really couldn't think about anything else!) and felt that my body was mine again and that life was back to its normality. What prompted this thought was partly because Sam slept through most nights and was a very good baby during the day so I had time to think about things and thought it wouldn't be too hard.

Most days, I was content and happy just be with Sam. But more and more I felt restless and yearned for something more. I felt I didn't use my time well when I had a lot of time on my hands. I felt I wasted a lot of time shopping for 'little' things (It's funny I know but I didn't really like shopping, it's not something I could happily do every day!) and doing 'unimportant' things (yes I mean housework!). It's not that housework is not important, it's just not satisfying and never finished! There is always dishes to clean, clothes to wash, floors to mop and meals to cook. I figured that if there is something else occupying my mind (ie work), I might be happier doing the housework (or it could just be wishful-thinking).

I restrained myself from calling work because I wanted to spend a little more time with Samuel. But when work called, I said "YES" without hesitation (the hesitation came later). It didn't take me too long to get daycare in place. The more days I got from daycare though, the less sure I was that I could do this. How could I get myself and the kids ready in the morning by 8am given that Sam does not actually have a routine? Would I have energy to cook and do the housework after a day's work? Also two weeks before I was due back at work, Samuel started to get up all hours at night because of teething. It created a lot of doubts as to how 'work' would fit in our family.

The first week at work didn't turn out too bad. I was very tired (so was Simon) because Sam kept getting up at night (he got up twice the night before my first day at work). I went to bed at 8pm that day absolutely exhausted and Simon picked up a lot of extra work. I was not so lucky the secoond week. Just after I had a cup of tea and tried some clients access and was happy that things worked, daycare called me (at 10 in the morning) to say Samuel had puss coming out of his ear and would I please go and get him. Yes Samuel has got ear infection and he's on antibiotics.

Thank goodness that we have the long weekend to rest and recover!