Okay, I am going just to come out and say it, I don't want to be a working mother anymore. I realize that my privilege allows me to even have this thought. I understand that the reality for many is that this idea could not, would not be entertained due to certain circumstances and the fact that I CAN think it makes me feel well, privileged.
Read MoreSo a few days ago, I decided to take a break from all the fertility stuff such as ovulation strip testing, temperature taking, and app tracking. Instead of doing those things first thing in the morning, I took a vow to write in my gratitude journal. I have been doing it for a few days. It takes literally 30 seconds and I write the first thing that comes to my mind. This is the journal I got to write in. It's only $14 and peppered throughout it are little quotes and insightful prompts.
Because Thanksgiving is around the corner, I wanted to expand on this list that I started and blog the top 10 things that I am thankful for. I encourage you to join me.
Read MoreToday is my one year anniversary from returning to work after my maternity leave ended. I was able to stay home for 14 weeks in total, one week leading up to the birth (she was nine days overdue) and 13 weeks after Winter was born. Of those weeks, I got paid for a whopping two weeks (which is a different story to share). But now, my toddler is sitting in her new Skip Hop high chair (that fabulously converts into a toddler chair by the way---more on the high chair at the bottom of the post), and I can't help but think back to that first day that I left her at home to go back to work.
Read MoreI started my maternity leave five days before my due date which was October 28th. I had envisioned myself working two days past my due date because Halloween sounded like a good end-date but after a particularly challenging Friday, my husband took one look at me and said, "You're done. Let's get you nice and relaxed so you can have enough energy to have that baby". My employers agreed to the start date and my arduous wait for Winter's arrival began. She was nine days late and I needed to be induced (I'll share my birth story another time). I had only been with my employer for a year and half before taking maternity leave which meant I had accumulated a lousy two weeks of paid leave. I am so grateful that I have a career, yet I have to say that the USA maternity and paternity laws are lacking in so many ways. From the time Winter was born, I got exactly 88 days before going back to work (well, 89 if you count that the my first day back was a snow day and I did not have to work). That's 2,112 hours which looks like a big number yet feels like the fastest roller-coaster ride of my life.
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