Working with a Newborn
By wallacb3
@wallacb3 (88)
United States
November 24, 2009 1:37pm CST
After 10 wks of maternity leave, I'm preparing myself to return to the work place. Unfortunately, this seems to be simultaneous with my son's learning explosion. I come home to hearing about his new word 'hi', and feel a pain of grief and disbelief that I'm going to be missing a lot. As a single mom, I can't afford to stay at home. But missing my son's daily adventures....its heartbreaking. Before I know it he'll be a teenager, begging for me to stay out of his room. Heaven knows I don't want to be a helicopter mom. I've looked into work-from home opportunities. In today's economy they aren't easy to acquire. Mommyworld is definetly complex!
6 responses
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
25 Nov 09
Hi,
Welcome to mylot and welcome to a mother’s world too LOL
This discussion brings back to mind the days when I had to go back to work leaving my 2 months old son with my in-laws! I was lucky to have them, not everybody is so lucky and they are forced to leave with babies with sitters or other places. However, it doesn’t really matter when you are not at home…it’s a stark reality of our times and financial conditions and also a misfortune for our babies that they don’t have that one person whom they want everytime and everywhere. It’s a heart wrenching situation no doubt but you are doing it for your baby’s sake…so harden your heart and look forward to returning home and cradling it in your arms…the times you two spend together is precious and though you have to go back to work, there’s somebody who’s so very your own that nothing (not even teenage tantrums) can ever separate the two of you.
@wallacb3 (88)
• United States
26 Nov 09
I have been lucky, my family is also very supportive. He's the first of the new generation, so the newly-grandparents are estatic. At the same time, I can forsee certain future decisions being more difficult, because we are so close with the family. Choices like where to live and such are harder to make. I want him to grow up in a good school system, but when the grandparents move in few years after retirement, that may mean distance. I know I shouldn't stress and enjoy time as much as I can...but the sooner I begin making plans the better. If they were to move thousands of miles away, should I consider moving as well?
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
27 Nov 09
Yes, I think you should...your child is growing up seeing the grandparents, it would be very difficult for him to adjust without them and also its always better to keep a child with the family than with strangers.
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
25 Nov 09
Hi wallacb3 and congratulations on your new baby. What are you doing for daycare. One of my girlfriends uses a day care that has these web cams set up so you can log into them from your computer and see what baby is doing, it's not the same thing as being there but it is something. If you are leaving him with a friend or relative there is always hope they will record the new things he does everyday.
You are doing what you have to do to take care of your little boy and that matters more than anything else. Working moms need to cut them selves some slack and take comfort in that. Rest assured that little people like to show off and anything he learns while you aren't watching, he will gladly repeat when you are.
Best of luck..Happy Thanksgiving
@tonniek02 (457)
• United States
24 Nov 09
Yes, it is hard...And I wasn't a single mom...But, with bill and the cost of living I had to work outside the home too. I missed my daughter first steps and so much more. But I always tryed to make the most of what time I did get with them. Spending that extra time with them, there will be things you won't have to miss. god bless
@priyavivek (681)
• India
25 Nov 09
hi wallacb3, you are correct. leaving the infant at home and going for work is really a difficult and challenging task. i too have crossed that moment by shedding lots and lots of tears. i was struggling between career and family for two years. and finally gave up the career temporarily. my husband is the one who is supporting the family financially and i'm taking care of the baby now. i donn have the guilty conscious now. i have spent more time with my baby in his right time.
