I've gone back to work last Friday. An unusual day to start work since its normally the last day of the (work) week. Though I have leave credits, I opt not to avail of it this time to save it for more important reasons in the future.
As expected there's plenty of work waiting for me to be done. What I did though was to clean and clear my table so I can start anew today.
As much as there's so much to do, I've been going home during lunchtime to breastfeed Maia and to eat lunch with Leon. Same thing also applies in the afternoon, I'll try my best to go home after an 8 hour work primarily to be able to feed Maia and prepare dinner for the family. Though we do have somebody to help me out in the household.
Being a working mom, it taught me to manage my time. Making sure that bits and pieces are taken cared of despite the hectic schedule.
And there's trying to squeeze in doing my cross-stitch project as well as blogging and visiting my social networking sites.
The work that I do entails me only 8 hours, but motherhood and housekeeping is a 24/7 job. I do rest though, by 12 midnight I try to get my needed rest for the next day's activities.
This is not complaining by the way, in fact I'm enjoying what's going on now :)... love it!
I'm a working mom. One of the privileges of being employed is going on a maternity leave which I'm availing of since I gave birth to our daughter last April 8. But it'll soon end, as I am going back to work this coming Friday, June 25.
Looking back, what have a done during the almost 3 months leave?
Aside from recovering from a repeated C-Section (I had the same with our eldest son), which was fast and of course taking good care of our newborn - she's gaining weight fast, making her more cuddly, I was able to attend to most household chores hands-on! I missed tending the house, making sure that it's clean and sanitized not just for the newborn but for all of us. It's quite a challenge though because our house is an old one and you can just imagine the wear and tear.
It gave me time to plan on what to do with the house. The house is of my mom's and since we're leaving in it for free, though we do give our share for the utilities and basic commodities. We're thankful to my mom for allowing us to stay in her house, renting nowadays is quite expensive. Though it is still an option but we often come to realize the practical side of it - paying a monthly rent and yet the house will not be ours no matter what. What we're doing is to do our share of improvements in the house - there goes the money that's supposedly a rent equivalent. We've done the ceiling and replacement of electrical connections, what's next? There's a lot in tow - a repaint, renovation of toilet and bath, renovation of dining area, those are just a few.
Checking on the expenses versus the savings is another task I was able to do while on maternity leave. Given some considerations, we are still a young couple and are both striving for our future. Having already 2 kids as planned, we off to the next step. The next step which are saving and paying for their education, buying our own house and making it our home. Again, these are just the 2 major plans, there are still more in the list. Both of us are off to doing well in our respective fields to be able to provide well for our family and share some to our parents.
I had enough time to attend to my personal needs as well. I had the "me time" which I missed so much. I was able to pamper myself, had a regular nails and a hair care, I'm off to a facial care soon :) Finished 2 cross stitch designs and currently doing another one now. The first two are gifts to two couple friends who tied the knot. Cross-stitching might be a career for me once I've decided to stop going to work.
Attending to pertinent documents and organizing family pictures were also done. We were able to have our daughter baptized already. These are some matters I planned to accomplish before I go back to work.
Most important though is the time I'm spending with our children, both equally important. For Maia's growing needs, she's still too dependent on me for her sustenance. And for Leon who is missing my attention since I got pregnant (had a difficult one) and was busy with work as well. Now is my time to catch up with him. I'm thankful though that even at his young age understands the situation.
Motherhood is definitely a 24/7 job, a career that I love so much and is very much into it. No need for a dictionary to explain it well, just talk to a mom.
I've mentioned in my earlier post regarding our replacement nanny who smokes cigars.
I have my preference in terms of hiring nannies for our child. My personal requirements are as follows:
1. Should be at least 18 years old, preferably single
2. Knows how to speak the English language
3. Must have had an experience caring for children with age range as my son's
4. Must enjoy the company of children
5. Does not smoke cigars and is not alcoholic
I'm very much particular with item #5. Why? Cigar smokers already made cigarette smoking a habit, most of the time, it's already part of their lifestyle. I have nothing against the person smoking, it's their choice. But once it affects me, my family, especially my children, that's when it becomes a matter to be dealt with.
Upon interview, this must be disclosed to us. Me and my husband, after the questioning the potential nannies, would also ask them of their expectations and about matters to be clarified with before starting. Talking about this particular nanny, which we are on trial with, she did not tell us that she smokes. Had I knew before hand, we wouldn't accept her.
It is a fact that non-smokers who are exposed to second hand smoke are at greater risk than that of direct smokers. What more if second hand smokers are children. Passive smoking post a risk to children as this can cause low birth weight babies, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), bronchitis, pneumonia and middle ear infection. We are not even talking about the risk of lung cancer brought about by either direct smoking or passive smoking.
It not just posses risk with our 3 year old son, whom she's taking care of, it likewise poses risk with the baby I'm about to deliver in a month.
Today, since there are 2 potential nannies, which I'm very much inclined to hire, me and my husband will be talking to the current nanny about her smoking habit and have to explain to her about effects it has on our child, we just have to decide not to proceed to hiring her.
It'll be unfortunate for her to be unemployed but the great risk she has with my son and the soon-to-arrive baby is far more important to me than anything else.
