Bringing Baby to Work?
Posted by G.I. Jane
Last week there was an emergency at day care and I had to pick up my daughter unexpectedly. With it being only 11:00 a.m. I still had a ton of work to do, and honestly, felt guilty about heading out so early in the day. Knowing I’d be taking a half day of vacation anyways, I brought her back to the office to finish a few things up before heading home.
My colleagues, whom I adore for this reason and many, had set up my office to be a mini playroom. It helps that I work for an educational child care company – our corporate office has lots of toys and games sent by our vendors. Dolls, bean bags, balls and markers were strategically positioned all over my office—my daughter couldn’t take [...]
Changing Child Care is No Joke
Posted by G.I. Jane
Before I had a child, child care was just one more thing that came with the territory, a necessity for working parents. When I became pregnant, researching and finding child care suddenly became an overwhelming task, but without knowing exactly what to look for or expect it wasn’t real. It was like the empty crib in the nursery – I know what it’s for and it looks pretty but it was just furniture. When I had my daughter, dropping her off at child care became a scary reality. I had to leave my baby…with someone who was almost a complete stranger.
After weeks of settling in, crying on my way to work and texting my child care provider daily, I was able to relax and trust that my daughter was [...]
Top 10
Posted by Erin
In honor of my little sister, who is about to have her first child, I thought I would put together a Top 10 List: Things I Wish I Had Known.
10. Buy a good washer/dryer. The amount of laundry that one infant dirties violates every law of physics and matter…it multiplies exponentially.
9. Don’t tiptoe or whisper around the baby, even when she’s sleeping. Infants can sleep (ha!) through anything, and if you start off with a silent house, you will end up watching reality t.v. with headphones on because your toddler can only sleep when it’s “library quiet.”
8. Be specific when people ask how they can help. Take advantage of the offer to do a load of laundry, or prepare a meal.
7. Shower, every day. Just do it. You’ll feel better.
6. Plan for the unexpected, and roll with it. Even if your birth plan includes using hypnosis and a birthing ball [...]
It’s a Big Deal
Posted by G.I. Jane
I attended my first one-year-old’s birthday party this past year – or last year – and swore up and down that I wasn’t going to make a big deal of my daughter’s first birthday. I know there might be some parents reading this and gasping that I wouldn’t want to recognize such an important milestone…to those parents, please keep reading.
I saw the stress my girlfriend encountered as she put together invitations – mailed them no less – and handmade the decorations and then carefully instrumented the entire event as she shuffled us from one part of the house to another for food, then present opening to cake. I endured this with no alcohol and at the whim of a toddler who had no clue what any of this was for. Afterwards, I [...]
It’s Okay to Talk About It
Posted by G.I. Jane
I read an article on NPR yesterday that talked about the difficulties of parenthood and how admittance of this fact comes with the stigma that you aren’t normal or are an unfit parent. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s okay to talk about it, and more importantly, it’s okay to feel beat down by the whole experience.
My daughter is eight months old and I’m still “mourning my pre-mommy” life as Martha calls it. The memories of being able to get up and go somewhere – alone! – or do things around the house without an infant needing my constant attention are still fresh. Last week I was able to walk to the liquor store by myself to get a bottle of wine on a beautiful evening and I felt an indescribable feeling of freedom in those short 15 minutes.
Monday, however, was a day when I questioned [...]
The Magic Robe
Posted by G.I. Jane
I have a magic robe. My husband surprised me with this red fleece robe a few weeks before I gave birth to our daughter. It was intended to keep me cozy during my maternity leave in the middle of winter. I have learned, however, that it possesses magic powers. These powers don’t allow me to suddenly whisk away to another time or place, or make me disappear or even make me Super Mommy, but it does have the ability to calm and soothe my daughter into a nap…or her happy place.
I’ve been wearing it since she was a newborn and noticed recently she has an affinity for it. If she sees it, she suddenly lights up and lunges for it. Literally, lunges. If she gets her hands on it, she smothers her face with it. It’s become her blankey, or lovie. Case in point, I had a friend over a [...]
Work and Family
Posted by G.I. Jane
My seven-month-old daughter recently contracted the Roseola virus, which as I soon found out is a harmless, though somewhat frightening, viral infection – similar to chicken pox. The events leading up to this discovery is an entirely other blog post. But, I digress.
After my third phone call to my pediatrician on his cell phone at 10 p.m. he accepted my request to bring her into the office in the morning. And that is when my husband and I began the conversation of who was taking her and who was going to work on time. Lucky for us, we both have understanding bosses who would no doubt excuse our lateness due to a sick child, but as professionals who are not accustomed to coming in late or calling out you can’t help but [...]
Teeny Weeny Bikini for Baby?
Posted by G.I. Jane
My husband and I decided to enroll our five-month-old daughter in a swim class this summer – more for the sake of a fun family activity than the need to teach a five month old how to swim. So we were left with the task of finding two things: swim diapers and a bathing suit.
Swim diapers were easy…check. Finding a bathing suit, technically, was easy but while looking I found something a bit disturbing: string bikinis for babies? I personally have no problem with a two-piece bathing suit for my infant daughter – the sight of her milk belly and little bellybutton makes my heart melt – but a string bikini? With small triangles tops covering non-existent lady parts? And strings holding up the bottoms? Is it just me [...]
