It is official. I am a new Mommy. I didn’t really want to become a new Mommy, but it was a change that had to be made.
I am now a Working Mom.
My first day back at work went well. Cameron and Mommy both got through the day with minimal tears. I kept my cool while dropping off a crying baby at daycare. I walked into work with my head held high. I genuinely smiled and chatted with co-workers. I got work done. But as the day progressed I felt anxiety increasing in my belly. I needed to know that my baby was okay. I needed to be with him. I needed to wrap my arms around him and kiss his little tummy and hear that precious giggle.
So, I called the daycare and I got on with my day. I held my head high. I genuinely smiled and chatted with co-workers. I got work done. I was surprised at how fine I was.
When I finally got home, I reached out and grabbed my son. It was amazing to hold him. I had an hour and a half before his bed and I tried to make the most of my time with him.
But I was surprised at how I felt. I was right there with Cameron, hugging him and making him laugh, yet I missed him so much! I missed the full days I was used to spending with him. I missed snuggling with him before a nap. I missed playing with him and I missed comforting the tears. I was grieving our lost day.
And then, I started to feel worse.
After getting Cameron off to bed, I looked around the house. My apartment that I have been trying so hard to keep clean(ish) and livable looked like a tornado had struck. The dishwasher needed to be unloaded. Dirty dishes covered every surface of the kitchen. The kitchen table was overflowing with clutter. The living room was a minefield of toys.
I used to be able to keep it relatively clean… but that was when I was at home all day.
And now, I am overwhelmed! I have no idea how I am going to be able to manage my time. I only finished one day of work, and I’m already feeling like a failure as a mother and a wife.
It is a process. I know it is a process. And I’ll keep at it and I’ll try to remain strong and positive. I’ll try to keep my cool and I’ll try to hold my head up. I will try to smile genuine smiles. And I’ll try not to get too overwhelmed.
But this is tough.
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After all of this has been said, I wanted to say thank you! There have been a lot of new blog readers lately and a lot of awesome bloggers featuring me. Seriously, I am so humbled! And it is all happening at the one time that I have no extra time for networking. I want to reply to every comment and I want to personally thank every blogger and tweep who has featured me. But I am right now trying to figure out how to juggle everything on my plate. Just know that I appreciate every little bit of bloggy love you give! Thank you thank you thank you!
Please bear with me as I am figuring out how to not be so overwhelmed with life. The number of blog posts might decrease slightly but stick with me. My readers are so awesome and I am so grateful for each one of you.
Thank you for all of your kind words and support. They are helping me through this transition to become a new type of Mommy.
Sarah N says
Laura, you are an amazing mom, wife, daughter, sister, etc, etc. You are doing a great job. I wish I had the words to comfort you but I'm not sure I do.
Get your husband on board. Is he home in the evenings? Ask him to help with dishes, tidying, cleaning of a bathroom, throwing in a load of laundry, etc.
Use your crock pot a lot. Even if it means buying 2 for those nights that you just don't get a chance to wash those dishes. On the weekend maybe take an hour and throw together a few dishes and toss them in the freezer. Don't be afraid to pick up a few things in the grocery store for those fast needed meals.
Will continue to pray for you.
Sarah N says
oh and I should say that I am a stay at home mommy with a couple of side jobs and I still seem to fail as a mommy/wife in different aspects. For example keeping my house clean, doing the dishes after supper. By the time the evening comes I'm exhausted, so I can only imagine how you feel after a full day of work.
Michelynne says
Heya….you will get into a routine, but I want to say I know what it's like….your day literally starts when you get home. And usually it's not done until at least 9 pm, with laundry, clean up kitchen, bath time, getting lunches ready, daycare bag packed….cleaning up toys…the list goes on and on…
The worst for me was getting up at 6 am and deskinning a small chicken so I could put it in the slow cooker and saying some choice things about how we would all enjoy it when we got home….
Hang in there…it's busy, just a different and exhausting kind of busy.
Courtney Kirkland says
You are a wonderful mom and a wonderful wife! Don't ever, ever doubt that! Give yourself time. You will settle into a routine and everything will start to feel normal again soon. But for now, just enjoy those good snuggle times and playtimes when you can. Sending prayers your way as you adjust to this new phase of life! And I won't be going anywhere. :) I'll be right here waiting on you to squeeze in blog time!