When it became clear that, pre-delivery, Sugarpie was healthy and would be arriving to stay, I started thinking about how my maternity leave would play out.

Things have not exactly gone according to plan.

WHat I IMagined This Maternity Leave Would be Like

There would be binge watching on Netflix and Amazon Prime Streaming! (Outlander Season 4, I’m looking at you….)

Exercising on the regular!

Writing. So much writing!

Reading! I would finally have time to read stuff!

Cooking and baking as I haven’t done since before I had Babycakes!

Volunteering at Babycakes’s school!

Taking naps!

Playdates (eventually)!

What This Maternity Leave Has Actually Been Like

Trying to soothe a fussy baby who doesn’t like to nap.

 

Homeschooling my kindergartener.

Needing protective gear to go to Target.

Watching Frozen 2 at least three times a week.

Did I mention a fussy baby?

Stress eating.

Getting beat up on the regular when try to feed the baby.

Shushing the whole house when I do finally get Sugarpie to nap.

Only to have her wake five minutes later. (And multiple times a night.)

Oh yeah, those Target trips? Can’t do that now.

Wash yo’ hands!

Starting to sleep train.

 

In seriousness, this is a hard time for everyone. We’re fortunate, I know others are not. Let’s just try to keep some lighthearted moments in the coming days. Look for beautiful things. Be kind. Celebrate small victories. Eat chocolate. Sleep when you can. Hug your children and kiss your partners (they don’t mean to irritate the hell out of you).

In closing, a PSA from Samuel L. Jackson (language warning):