Back to reality, part II

Last Sunday night I was, to put it mildly, feeling blue. I knew leaving Avery and heading to work the next day would be hard, and I was mourning the end of my maternity leave and the newborn chapter of Avery’s life. One week later, I’m feeling much better. Though saying good-bye to Avery last Monday was difficult, things got easier as the week progressed. (It helped that I only had a three-day work-week, but still…) By Wed. it totally felt normal to part from Avery and drop off Zoe at school before zipping down to Stanford – and it felt good to jump back into projects that I left behind four months ago. I’m not saying I don’t still miss my leave (and Avery!), of course – and I know we’ll have our share of tough days in the future. But for now, at least, I can’t say I’m still feeling blue.

Along the same lines, it occurred to me the other night that life with two kids (regardless of work) was also feeling more normal – and manageable. I had picked Zoe up from school early, and by the time Q got home from work, I had bathed and fed both kids and also packed Zoe’s lunch for school the next day. But more importantly: there were no mishaps with either girl, I wasn’t feeling stressed or (too) exhausted, and I hadn’t made one you’ve-got-to-come-home-right-away-because-I’m-freaking-out-and-I-need-help phone call to Q. (Believe me, he received plenty of those this summer, when I was still learning the ropes of caring simultaneously for two little girls). Every night won’t be this easy, of course (let’s not even talk about how bedtime went tonight!) but I’m sure that things will continue getting (a bit) easier with each passing day. And that’s a very comforting thought!

-M

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