As I sit here writing this entry, Lucas is happily chirping away in his bouncy seat at my feet. Hearing his little voice makes my heart so happy - it's a sound like nothing else. Sadly, for me, these mornings are fleeting - I go back to work in two weeks. I can not believe how fast the time has flown by, the fact that my little man is already six weeks old and that our time together is fading.
This brings me to another thought - how completely unreasonable it is for companies to think that an 8 week maternity leave is nearly long enough especially given that many daycare centers will not take a baby younger than 8 weeks. When we first found out I was pregnant I had just started a new job in Boston. Working for a large company I was lucky to even get the eight weeks that I did. Many companies require 12 months before they will give you any paid time so for that I can't complain. However, if I'd been there just three more months I would have been able to take 16 weeks!
I have a dear friend who has been living in Scotland for the last three years. She became pregnant during her time there and gave birth to a beautiful little boy. And... her maternity leave was 9 MONTHS -- PAID!!! Yes, I am aware that this is due in part to the way in which their government is designed and the taxes that they pay, but it still doesn't negate the fact that she was able to be home with her son for almost the entire first year of his life!
As my due date got closer, Brian and I contemplated seriously whether I would need to go back to work after the baby was born. While we'd be able to manage financially if I chose to stay home full-time, we have become accustomed to a certain lifestyle and we don't want Lucas to be denied anything in his life. I began looking for part time positions thinking that would be a good compromise between going back full time and not at all. Unfortunately, while there were lots of jobs out there, none of them truly interested me and for the amount I'd be getting paid it just didn't seem worth it. The decision had been made - I would go back full time, at least initially and see how things work out.
With my return to work date rapidly approaching I find myself even more consumed with my son. Over the last few days he has begun to smile consciously and loves being carried around in the Baby Bjorn. I've started reading to him and despite my inability to carry a tune, I've been singing to him ... He loves "The Wheels on the Bus"!
We are just trying to enjoy our last few days together which when your child is as perfect as mine is certainly not hard to do!
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