Day 14- In the office with Kate

(This stock photo is NOT me, and is being used because once again, my theKbuzz staff has my camera!)

My experiences as a working mother with an infant were completely different with Charlotte and Kate. During Charlotte's first three months, I was home...and I mean, completely, totally home. Staring at her little wrinkled face, I did nothing but love her, bite her tushee, and worry every time she did anything that I hadn't read about in "What to Expect when You're Expecting". When I went back to work, I went BACK to work-- 8:30 - 5:30, with some slight flexibility, but mostly, just full time like any other parent.

Now, with Kate, Dave and I have our own business. And so, I am required (if we want to make any money) to jump back in a bit earlier. However, because it is our own business, I can work from home, breastfeed whenever the heck I'd like, and bring Kate with me without any manager raising an eyebrow. This, to me, is a much better option.

And so, it is with great excitement that I report to you that Friday, September 7th, I spent the entire day in my office with Miss Kate. I watched the contractors build the furniture. I breastfed her under a blanket in the middle of meetings. I took her for walks while I was on conference calls. It was a great day.

I know this won't last beyond a few months...as she gets bigger, she gets more challenging to have at work. I've hired a sitter who is going to be FABULOUS for two days a week. I also have Dave to switch off with. It's going to be great. But for now, I'm celebrating my successful office day with my beautiful, smiling daughter.

:)

Day 6- A Mom's Gotta Work...

Today, (or rather, yesterday, as I was way too busy to write this on its proper day) I woke up, put on my fanciest high heels, and went to work. While it's not officially "Back To Work" time, and while I do usually work from home, Dave and I both had meetings that required morning getting-readiness, and childcare, and all that jazz.

First, let me say, that as I was getting dressed, I was thinking that I truly do have it all. I can put on my finest earrings, my hottest pumps, and kiss my kids and tell them I'll be back in a few hours. I've got it easy compared to most, right? I make my own hours, I work mostly from home, I attend meetings when I want...it seems ideal!

Well, after I kissed the kids and left, I remembered what its like to work outside of the home. First off, those hot high heels I mentioned? OUCH! And how did I used to balance in these things? Oh well, I still looked good. My meeting, of course, started late...and I immediately began calculating the amount of minutes I would be late to pick up the girls. My meeting also started with an intense round of introductions, joking, and chit chat. This is quite common in the businessworld, but for a working mommy with a 2 month old at home, you just want to get on with it. An hour into the meeting, we were still at the beginning of strategy discussions. Wait a minute....what's this?

Oh no.

A leaky boob.

Yup. Right in the middle of my meeting, I got the familiar sensation of "Uh-Oh, I'm about to burst". And then, the heavens opened, and out poured my boob milk. No one noticed, (Thank goodness for dark patterned dresses!) but of course I still found it quite embarrassing.

Two hours into the meeting that was scheduled for just one and a half hours, and i was really starting to lose it. I call my mom, who was watching the kids.

"We're out of breast milk" she says. "She's not hungry yet, but I'm not sure when she will want to eat again".

Now, I have a decision to make...do I leave the meeting, or starve my kids?

Guess which choice won out?

It's never easy. Whether you work part time, whether you stay at home, whether you are a workaholic. Every choice is hard. Every choice is judged by others. And every choice is one that the mom is not 100% sure about. Even when you work part time, the occasional leaky boob meeting pops up. Even when you work from home, or are a SAHM, you want to walk around in your Manolos once in a while. And so, today, on Day 6, I am sending big hugs to all working moms, whether they work in an office, or work as a stay at home parent. It's the hardest damn job on earth.