Yep. I took the job.
It's three days a week. It's flexible. I can roll in the door in a pair of old jeans and flip-flops. (Because I'm professional.) And?
And...that's it. There are no more perks. THE END.
So now I'm cleaning the house because I'm terrified that working with two kids will mean my basement family room will never, ever be vacuumed again (like when I was pregnant--true story) and I'm trying to tell myself that I can stay on top of all this with a job (even though I haven't been able to without a job).
I'm also wondering what exactly I'm supposed to take to the MIL's house. I bought a super-sized can of Sam's Club formula, a box of diapers, and pizza rolls. (Because obviously.) I'm packing up random things like the Pack-N-Play (do kids ever willingly get in that thing?) and hooded towels. I know I'll go to work and get a phone call saying, "Elodie just yacked on everything you brought over. She's naked and screaming. BRING HELP."
Speaking of screaming... Elodie has stranger anxiety and screams when anyone else picks her up--including MIL. During my job interview Elodie refused to eat and screamed until she passed out in her swing. So I don't know if this is going to work.
I've never dealt with baby/back-to-work issues. When I started work two years ago, I dropped off a potty trained toddler! So I have no clue what to pack, what to expect, what's normal, or how I'm going to handle missing milestones.
Advice needed.
14 comments:
As long as Elodie has food and diapers, she'll be set! I know how hard it is to go back to work. Hang in there and just know, everything will work out.
Last year I went back to school and had to leave my son with a sitter. He was about 9 months old then. For the first month he did nothing but cry and the sitter actually asked me to find someone else. OMG... She said she would give me sometime to find someone but he just won't quit crying. Well guess what. He did. About a week later his crying lessened and began to play with the toys and other kids. At the end of the school year he wasn't crying at all and would actually run from me to go play. Then he would cry when I picked him up. It will all work out you just have to give it some time. You will cry. Your baby will cry. No doubt your MIL will cry. But it will be okay. Know that as long as your child is safe she will be ok. Congrats on your new job and enjoy the adventure. Good luck.
Well, I don't really have any advice, as I have always been a SAHM (except for one brief and horrible stint as a law office secretary *shudder*) But your MIL will figure it out. I remember one time my mom babysat my nephew and they ran out of diapers so my mom put a dishtowel on his bottom.
This will be good for Elodie. Her stranger anxiety will get better BECAUSE of this. And, it will be hard - probably get worse before it gets better, but that's all part of the learning curve.
Glad to hear you're going for it. I'm sure this will ease your anxiety about the financial stuff.
It will suck for you and her for the first week or so...but everyone will be fine. Like Jackie said, she will have food and diapers and that is what she needs!
You go girl...you go and bring home some bacon...
On the keeping up with the house thing...when me and my friends started becoming Momma's we would say, "OK so things are straightened but just don't look too closely"...meaning that it may be straight but it may also have a light coat of dust on it too...little things
My son started daycare at 10 weeks old. Its hard. Just remember, babies sleep alot...ALOT. And then they poop and eat. Its not too complicated for the caregiver. Diapers, food, love. You'll both get into the routine eventually and both of you will cry off and on throughout the whole experience - probaby for years. My son is 2 now, and sometimes he still cries - and sometimes I do too. : )
This is what you do for the milestone thing. Tell you MIL not to tell about anything that Elodie did then when she does it for you, it will be like the first time. That is what happened with my kids. I was tricked, knew it, and loved it.
And the more time she spends with your MIL the better. She will be fine.
Deep breaths, you can do this.
Send one of your t-shirts with Elodie as her security blanket. It smells like "mama". K is 2.5 and I still leave a t-shirt with him when I go out of town. Sometimes he snuggles it, other time he looks at it "why did they throw laundry in my bed?"
I agree with previous poster - Elodie's stranger danger will actually improve because of this. When do you start work? Do you have time to leave Little E with MIL for 30 minutes at a time for a few days in a row before doing it for a full day?
Alright, Jaci! YOU CAN DO THIS!
Elodie will probably cry all day for a few days (at least). She WILL get over it. I never had that problem, because Olivia started daycare at 9 weeks. She's with her grandma, and after a few times, she'll be OK and you'll be OK and it will ALL BE OK I SWEAR. :)
As far as missing milestones? I'm always still really excited when Olivia does something for my mom or for our babysitter. I mean, you could just as easily be out for a couple hours buying groceries and miss a "first." Or maybe she did it in her crib all by herself and nobody had any idea. I agree with whoever posted that you tell your MIL NOT TO TELL YOU when she does something if you think that it will upset you!
Just think: you won't be dirt poor! Your girls will have time away from you and Kevin, and you'll MISS them when you're gone! You'll be legitimately happy to see them when you pick them up! This can be good, Jaci. Just get it in your brain that it is what it is and it has to be like this - it's what I do every day.
Plus, think of the blog fodder!
OH, and as far as the bag packing - I over-pack. I work an hour away, and cutting out to grab extra clothes is not an option. I always packed 3 extra outfits per day when Olivia was little and was a spitter, and then I premade formula and also threw a can in the bag in case they ran out of my premade stuff. I packed the bag for the entire week on Tuesday nights for W,Th, and Fri.
That over sized can of formula from Sam's is a lifesaver, and money saver at that!!!! My first little one had stranger anxiety really bad and she was around 7 months old when I went back to work, for her it was out of sight out of mind, it would only last a couple of minutes and within a week or two she was over it and pushing me out the door(Ha, not really!) but don't feel guilty she's just used to always having you around. It will be good for the both of you! Congrats on the job and hey I wish I could wear jeans and flip flops to my job, that would be wonderful!!!
As I think everyone else has already said - if the baby has food, diapers and love all will be well. And the stranger anxiety? That will be resolved before you know it. It will be fine, I promise.
If you MIL has a shred of humanity, she will quietly notice the milestones - and then not tell you about them, and bite her lip and smile when you brag about Elodie's new moves/words/etc. I am positive that is what the boy's daycare does, and support this 100%.
Bulk diapers, food, and a few extra onesies - you should be all set! Elodie will adjust, and before you know it she will be crying when you pick her up. And it will almost be worse than when she cried during drop-off...almost.
Congrats on the new job! Working in flip-flops rocks.
Points to remember::
1. It is only for 3 days a week, that leaves a lot of time that you can be with her.
2. Your MIL has raised at least one child, so she probably won't panic if she runs out of diapers.
3. Your MIL presumably loves your kids. She is their grandmother. She will keep them safe.
4. Millions of women with young children must work. Kids are pretty adaptable and will (partly)take their cue from you!
5. You're worrying about vacuuming the basement? Really?? A little dust never hurt anybody! There is no one who will come out to judge your cleaning skills. Most young moms are in the same boat. Believe me, you'll have plenty of time to vacuum when the kids go off to college.
6. You are doing this by choice for your family. If it doesn't work out, you are not locked in for the rest of your life!
'twill be ok! honest!!
I dropped off my oldest at daycare when he was 9 months old. I cried and cried. He didn't.
Swings are great things. It will be ok with Elodie.
I don't know about the 70s office. I'm thinking a really bright screen saver...
Post a Comment