Introduction to Life as a Working Mama

Hello, I'm the person formally known as just Sophia. Sophia the workaholic, Sophia the wife, Sophia the daughter, Sophia the sister, Sophia the dog owner, Sophia the homeowner, Sophia the somewhat obsessive, scatterbrained yet organized perfectionist who always tries to do it all and have it all--sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Well now I'm also Sophia the mom. Somehow, Sophia the mom has trumped all the other versions of Sophia and it's throwing me for a loop!

My son, Christian, is now four months old. I spent the first four months of his life at home, luxuriating in the glorious time off and basking in the glow of new mommyhood. Okay yeah, not really. The first month I don't even remember anything--it's all a haze of sleepless nights, nursing issues, and a pair of bewildered parents. The second month I started to get enough sense of self back that I began to question my choices and abilities as a parent (it begins) and obsess over everything that had to do with the baby. The third month I finally began to notice and enjoy being a parent and not be so anal retentive about everything. Then BAM, I'm back at work. Ta-da, four months just like that.

So my first week of work has been hellish, to say the least. My friends who have had kids and gone back to work advised me to take it slow, to work part time if I could, to ease myself back into the routine. Ha, ha, HA! I laugh at them. My job does not allow any of the above. I guess I should be flattered--I am loved, needed, and missed at work! Hooray! But the bleary-eyed mom in me says bah-humbug to all that. I'm also working this Saturday. Yes, the first week I am back at work, I am working an extra day.

I'm proud of myself though, I'm actually taking a day off to comp for working Saturday AND when I had to work late yesterday, I came into work late so I could spend more time with the baby. It's a new thing for me, not working 10-12 hours a day. I guess it's different when you have a cute and cuddly baby at home who goes to bed at 7:30 PM. If I don't get home on time, I miss everything. And can you believe it? I actually want to be there for it all. Sophia the workaholic? Meet Sophia the mom.