Well, it’s been 6 months since I returned to full time work after a years maternity leave. I am a full time working parent of a toddler. Did I ever think I would say those words? Nope. Not really.

This lifestyle is not easy. Don’t let anyone ever tell you it is. Working for 8 - 12 hours a day and then on top of that raising a well adjusted child. Not effortless at any point really; especially when you commit to daycare for a considerable part of the “raising”.
We’ve been very lucky with our daycare. I am so pleased with it. The only thing that I have a really hard time with is the pain MY CHILD inflicts on OTHER children. Carter is a biter, he bites a lot. I thought it may be to the point where he would be removed during his first months of daycare; but they assured me that it’s a phase and something he will, in time, grow out of. Fine. But when I have TWO sheets to sign because my child has bitten and broken skin in BOTH instances I feel responsible. I also feel guilty when he attaches himself to me like Velcro in the mornings because he’s not fully adjusted to his move into todder hood - meaning new room, new friends and new teachers. These are things that, as a parent, no class or advice (solicited or unsolicited) can prepare you for.

Then, on top of that, leave the daycare and sit in traffic for hours to get where I have to go, not my cup of tea really. I resign myself to the fact that this is the way it has to be, but it’s draining. So utterly exasperating, emotionally and physically. I feel like I can never catch up and I am constantly overworked, overwhelmed and sleep deprived. Is this my way of life now? Is this something that I just have to become accustomed to?
This evening, before Carter went to bed, I dozed off on the couch as he played around me. 6:30pm. Now, I am more then willing to amble off to the bedroom and submit myself to a long peaceful slumber at 7:30pm.

Unfortunately, my priorities are another matter.

Have you seen Y&R lately? Wow. I have to watch today’s episode, THEN off to bed.