Life of a working Mom
Being a working Mom takes efficiency to a whole new level. As a woman, you generally think that you are efficient, i.e. always multi-tasking and thinking about a million things at a time. As a working Mom, you just have to take it that much further. Here is the schedule of my typical work day:
5:30 a.m. (yes, morning!) – pump to get Michael’s breakfast ready
6:15 a.m. – Shower (with very dim light) – otherwise the bathroom fluorescent light will beam through to Michael’s room and wake him up!
6:45 a.m. – my breakfast (if Michael decides to wake up at this point, so much for breakfast!)
7:00 a.m. – waking up Prince Michael – he usually has the biggest grin waiting for me at this point. So waking up at 5:30 a.m. is worth it!
7 – 8 a.m. – juggling amongst these activities: feeding, playing, getting ready for work, breakfast, etc.
8:15 a.m. – Leave the house (saddest moment of the day)
8:30 -12:30 p.m. – Work which usually consists of many meetings and includes 1 pumping session. My colleague, Kitty, meticulously organizes my pumping sessions between all the meetings!
12:30 p.m. – call our helper to check on Michael
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. – lunch with Ian (if he/I don’t have lunch appointment with somebody else). Best time of the day!
2:00 – 5:30 p.m. -work again (same juggling!) and leave office latest by 5:35 p.m.
5:55 p.m. - arrive home if traffic is light and another best moment of the day! Play with Michael for 5 minutes and then his bath time.
6:00 p.m. – 7: 00 p.m. -Bath, feed, burp and Michael is asleep
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Blackberry emails / telephone with office
Then comes dinner and some quiet time with Ian. One last pumping at 10 p.m. before going to bed! At this point, I am so tired that I can fall asleep standing up!
Of course the above schedule is the best scenario and it does have its variations. One of the biggest reasons why the schedule works so well is that Ian is a 120% supportive father. Hence, we are able to execute the schedule together, e.g. if I have an evening meeting, then he takes over at the bath & bed time routine. Colleagues at work think Michael lives in a military school but only by following the schedule will we maximize some chance to play / interact with him!
Having said that, NONE of the efficiency takes away the guilt I (or Ian) feel about leaving Michael at home. Apparently, it is just something that you have to get used to and there are absolutely no remedies for it (unless of course quitting your job is an option!).
Of course, as I am writing this blog, it is a Sunday morning, Michael is taking his morning nap… I probably won’t be able to load photos until his next nap! Meanwhile, Ian is wonderfully preparing breakfast for us both, before Michael’s squeaks soon.
We are all well and with love from Hong Kong… Enjoy the photos (from my 2nd edit)!
