Someone called me a Super Mom the other day. I sometimes feel super, but most days, all I do is work through all of my obligations and hope to find some moments of peace. It’s not always pretty. If you’re lucky – you can get a little sleep. Here is a recap of one of my busy days, back to work at just 8 weeks postpartum. I’m sure many mamas can relate.
5:20 a.m. I’m up. It’s quiet. I’m engorged and starting to leak. My husband took the night shift. I lay in bed for a few more minutes contemplating my wardrobe options and making a mental packing list for the day.
5:45 a.m. Alarm goes off. I start my day with my beloved breast pump and the local news. I shower and start getting ready for the day. What do I wear? I find a comfortable, pumping friendly outfit that won’t stain or wrinkle and will transition to business casual for an evening program at school. (phew)
Inner thought: Will anyone notice that these are maternity pants? Is that the baby I hear?
7:00 a.m. I head out on my 20 minute commute with the following items in tow: avocado toast, school bag, breast pump, cooler bag and gym bag packed with nicer shoes to swap out for the evening. In the car I turn on NPR –start to get anxious, change to Top 40. Eat avocado, apply makeup (don’t try this at home).
Inner thought: I’ve got this! I’m going to have a productive day, as soon as I get some coffee!
7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Drink coffee, help students, email, voicemail. Pump and text husband to check in since he’s got the two kids at home. Reassure him that he can handle the two kids, suggest that he call my parents for help in the afternoon.
11:30 a.m. Lunch. My work friends listen to my baby updates, look at pics and make me temporarily feel better about being away from my babies. I feel my let-down reflex.
12:00 p.m. Create afternoon to-do list for work and home. I realize that in two weeks we’re having 30 people over for a backyard BBQ and I haven’t done any yard work in 10 months.
Inner thought: Why don’t I have a housekeeper? I need a housekeeper.
1:00 p.m. Afternoon pumping session. Snack. Check-in with my husband who is now convinced that he’s a terrible parent and can’t calm the baby down. Explain three different times that the baby is probably overtired. For the rest of the day I feel guilty that I’m at work and sad that I can’t be there to comfort my newborn.
Inner thought: I should have taken more time off from work. Why did I come back so soon?
4:40 p.m. Mid workout I realize that I no longer have functioning abdominal muscles and my legs are basically atrophied from not working out for weeks on end. I’m sweating profusely and in the middle of a twice-modified pull up when:
Inner thought: This isn’t so bad, it’s self-care! I should come three times a week, I’ll lose this baby weight in — Oh no! I forgot my towel!!!!
5:00 p.m. I go to buy a single towel at Tuesday Morning because I HAVE to shower. I undress and step into the lukewarm gym shower only to realize that my soap has somehow leaked out in my bag and there’s none left in the bottle. I also forgot my shower cap and face wash. But I did remember my shower shoes, at least.
Inner thought: At least I don’t smell. As long as I’m wearing lipstick and decent shoes, everyone will think I’ve got it together – right?
5:45 p.m. I drive thru Wendy’s for a salad (and french fries). I really want another coffee but settle for green tea, because I’m breastfeeding.
Inner thought: Theme song to Thomas & Friends. On repeat.
6:00 p.m. Back to school and yet another pumping session while I eat dinner and nervously look through the presentation that I have to help give to about a hundred parents that evening.
6:30 p.m. Evening presentation for parents about college planning. It goes pretty well. Inner thought: $60k/year? It’s a good thing we cut our cable. We’re really going to need to save that extra money to pay for college tuition in 15 years.
9:25 p.m. I get home just in time to give my newborn a bath, have a nursing session and put him to sleep. I’m pretty sad that I didn’t see my 3-year-old all day long and contemplate heading into his room to wake him up. I decide against it, do a final pump, have a beer, wash dishes and bottles and start to pack up for the next day.
10:45 p.m. In bed, scrolling through social media and thinking about how I will cuddle with my boys tomorrow. By now, I AM EXHAUSTED and have to do most of this all over again tomorrow. Even Super Mom has got to get some sleep.
