Brand New World » Work

Hi ho, hi ho

betsy — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:59:26 +0000

It’s off to work mom goes. (Yes, new parents tend to talk about themselves in the third person.)

Do I have to go?? Yes. Do I want to? No. Eliza will be exactly one month old the same day I go back to work. It doesn’t seem fair. Why are maternity leave policies in this country so horrible (or non-existent)? I could have had the semester off, sure, UNPAID. That didn’t make sense with diapers, wipes, and formula to buy. Oh well. I guess going back to work will make me treasure spending time with her even more than I do already.

The sling rules

betsy — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:13:41 +0000

So I started “wearing” Eliza yesterday in a sling and she really loved it. She fell asleep in there, all snug, while I took the ornaments off the Christmas tree. It looks uncomfortable to see her all squished up in there, but I guess it feels like being in the womb. I’m going to try and use it for a little while very day to get her used to it. That way, hopefully I can take her with me to some meetings and such, and she’ll be content to lie against my tummy. I’m lucky I have a job and work in a department where bringing my baby is okay (at least, once in a while). My department chair has even joked about getting a pack n’ play for her office.

Back to work soon

betsy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:21:40 +0000

I’m a bit worried about what will happen when Jason has to go back to work (Monday). He’s much better at calming Eliza down than I am. He also gets her to sleep at night, even though it takes a couple of hours and doesn’t happen until 1:00 a.m. or later. He won’t be able to do that once he has to get up at 6 a.m. to get to work on time. We’ve settled into a routine, but that routine will have to get altered in just a few days. Luckily, I don’t have to go back to work until the 15th, so we have a little bit of transition time. It’ll all work out, I’m sure. Time is seriously flying, and Eliza is now 18 days old.

Why I'm freaking out

betsy — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:54:36 +0000

Eliza’s room is a total mess. Gifts in the floor. Nothing organized. Don’t even know what’s in there.
Need to wash all her clothes and sheets.
Need to finish packing my hospital bag.
Have a 20-page article to write before December 15. Barely started.
Mountains of papers to grade. Students begging to get them back.
Paperwork to fill out…tons and tons of paperwork.
Exams to write, classes to prepare, should think about next semester’s syllabi.
The house is a total disaster zone. Toilet and shower need scrubbing, floors need swept, dirty laundry everywhere…
Things we still need to buy…or do we?
5 weeks to go. That’s it. Maybe less. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!