Home vs. Work

I pretty much slacked on the blogging last week due to some busy days and nights.  I am finding now that my girl is up a lot more during the day I really have to use my time wisely and prioritize what needs to get done.  Who knew a little person could keep you so busy??? If I'm not feeding her (which is starting to get out of control), I'm changing diapers, or putting her soother back in, or sterilizing bottles, etc.  If you're a mom you know.

Last night I was trying to explain to my husband that all these things in the house don't just magically happen. The bottles don't clean themselves, the sleepers that she has shit through don't walk to the washing machine, and the diapers, wipes, etc. don't restock on their own. My point being that there are a tonne of things that go on behind the scenes that keep a household running smoothly. This, of course,  brings us back to the age old question, which is harder, staying at home or going off to work???

If you don't have kids, you would say the obvious answer is going to work.  When you're a mom, the obvious answer is staying home.  While being at home all day doesn't necessarily challenge your brain, it most definitely challenges your patience, your body, and your sanity. Now Jared says he would gladly change places with me in a second (am I the only one who has heard that line before?). While I don't doubt that he would love spending more quality time with our daughter, I would bet my life that he would be singing a different tune a week from now (the getting up during the night, every night would be enough to throw him over the edge). Just to be clear, I am not saying that working outside the home is easy either.  His job is mentally and physically draining and he too gets up early and works long days to provide for his family (which is so very much appreciated and respected). What I am saying is that when 10 o'clock rolls around and there is sink full of bottles (again), and my boobs feel like they are going to explode because I have to pump, I literally want to scream.

Now let me reinforce how much I adore spending my days with Ivy and what a wonderful father my husband is. The reality is that when you are a mom your job is never done.  Our brains never shut off (or at least mine doesn't yet) and we feel like we are the heart and soul of the whole operation. I think like all new parents we are trying to find balance in our lives so that one person doesn't feel like they are pulling more weight than the other. Adding a new person to your family is a huge adjustment that comes with a whole new set of challenges. I am quickly realizing that team work is the key to a happy family life (especially when I go back to work next year).