When I became pregant with Autumn, it was a surprise. A very big surprise. Keith and I hadn't even been married a year yet and we weren't planning on children for a few more years. But, apparently, something else was in store for us.
At that time, we decided I would go back to work. I've talked about this before, but in case you didn't see that posting, we decided that financially we'd be better off, since we have the mortgage, two student loans and, at the time, two car payments. Plus we all know raising a child isn't cheap, and we wanted to be able to provide for our baby. Also, we both thought I would go stir-crazy at home by myself all the time, which was confirmed for me during my maternity leave. I called my Mom a couple times a day, because I knew she was home and I wanted some conversation. But I never had anything to talk about except for the fact that I was tired or the contents of Autumn's diaper.
I've known other women who went part time after their kids were born, but those women worked in health care, where schedules like that are pretty easy to come by. I knew a woman in journalism who quit her job and said maybe she'd come back to it in a few years. I know another woman, not in journalism, who quit with no intention to go back to work any time soon. And that woman was the breadwinner in her family.
I've been very fortunate that my bosses have been understanding of my role as a Mom. When I've had to leave to pick Autumn up because she's sick, there were no arguments. I've always been careful to make up the time on another day -- work through lunch, do some work at home, whatever it takes. Maybe that's part of the reason why there's never been a problem. I've also been fortunate that, so far, on the days when day care is closed either Keith or I was able to take the day off or we've had one of our parents come up and watch Autumn. We've not had a time when we've really panicked over this yet. Yet. I always worry about that day when I will have to panick. I guess in that way I'm panicking about panicking. Crazy, isn't it?
The one thing I do know, is that once I became pregnant, it became clear that someone else was now going to come first. I have to always keep that in my mind. I am responsible for Autumn and she completely depends on Keith and I. Wonderful and terrifying, isn't it?
Anyway, tomorrow I'll tell you about some articles I read lately that related to working mothers' situation. They're quite interesting and have really made me think.