Saturday, January 9, 2010

Reality Check...

I have been down all week because my happy-because-mommy-was-home-for-two-weeks baby has been majorly snubbing me and also refusing to go to bed all week now that I'm back to work. I had thought it had been a tough week until I read this from Jen at Maybe If You Just Relax. It put my situation in perspective (although seriously, NOT the time to tell me I'm a horrible mother for working, just don't, I already feel bad enough). Go over there any give her some love, anyone in that situation would have the beejeezus scared out of them and deserves a little comment lovin. Besides, if you're not following her already you should be as she is about as funny as they get, even in the scary times and that's saying something!

In other news my wonderful boss has encouraged me to try some different work scheduling options in order to spend more time with Lucy. Next week I'm trying out a 6 am (YES, as in getting up at 4:45 AM) to 3:00 pm schedule so that I'll have all evening with Lucy. Wish me luck! Any works of encouragement about getting up that early in the morning would be much appreciated if anyone out there has a similar schedule!

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."
-Unknown

20 comments:

Wendy said...

Have you seriously been getting comments about working making you a bad mother? Ridiculous.

Bren said...

Hey you,

I used to work 6am shifts. Honestly, it wasn't so bad, although I don't think I could have lasted like that for an entire year. But for a few months it wasn't so bad . Getting up around 5:00 actually felt less bad than getting up at 7:00 (maybe something to do with sleep patterns?) Plus, it's really nice, even in winter, to actually go home during DAYLIGHT!!!! So good luck!

Rachel said...

So sorry you and Lucy are having a hard time readjusting to your work schedule. My neighbor works a flex schedule: 7am - 5pm, 4 days a week. It's longer work days, but then she gets to be home for 3 straight days. If you went in from 6am - 4pm, 4 days a week, it would still be 40 hrs/week and you could maybe get home a little earlier and have an extra day home with your family. Just a thought since your boss sounds flexible and might work with you. Good Luck!

Jamie @ Bungalow Bee said...

I used to get to work at 7am and be out by 4pm. It was GREAT, and I'm not a morning person! First, traffic is 100x better at 6:30am and 4pm. Second, your baby goes to bed early enough so that means you get to go to bed, too, and not miss anything! Plus, you are up and at work when some people are still in bed. I'm not sure how that's a positive, exactly, but it feels like one...I always loved thinking about that because it meant I was being productive when other people weren't (yet), and I got to leave early!

Good luck! You're a really good mommy, Bev! Lucy knows you'd be around her every second of every day if you could because of how you spend time with her when you can be there! :)

stephanie said...

I was thinking of trying a similar schedule to spend more time with Olivia because right now, we don't get home from work/daycare till 5:30 and she goes to bed at 7. NO TIME. It sucks.

So yeah, I don't have advice, but I can comisserate. Oh and people who think you're a bad mom can suck it.

Tiffany said...

It sounds tough. You're so lucky to have a boss who's so understanding though! While I haven't ever completely changed my scheduled (I deal with clients so I can't), I do get up at 4:30am at least once a week to travel and I have to say that you get used to it. You will just need to make sure to go to bed MUCH earlier so you're still getting enough sleep. Good luck!

Ellie said...

I think you might really like that schedule. When I was working, I loved the earliest schedules available. I mean, getting up early is hard, but being a mommy you are used to little sleep (remember the early weeks, and breastfeeding so only you could feed her in the middle of the night?!), and you have so much time in the evenings! It's great, I think you'll be very happy with it.

Ben and Audrey said...

hey beverley!

i've been reading your blog for a long time. i love it.
first of all, no one should ever make you feel bad for working. that is absurd. everyone has to do what is best for their own family. and from what i read on this blog, you are an excellent mom, working or not!!

also. i used to work 6:20-2. every single day for 2 years. it was definitely a hard adjustment at first. i did NOT want to roll out of bed at 5 am to be at work. but when 2:00 rolled around & i was off work & had pretty much the entire day at home, i LOVED it. it made getting up that early, totally worth it!!! i would just encourage you to get in bed earlier. getting plenty of rest makes all the difference in the world. i would also get as prepared as you can the night before. i would lay out my clothes and everything i would need the next day. a lot of nights i would go ahead & shower so that the next morning i could just jump up, throw on my clothes & make up and run out the door. showering the night before may not work for you, but it gave me a little extra sleep in the mornings. when i was working this shift, i didn't have kids yet, so i'm sure that made it a little easier!!! now that i have a 14 month old & i'm 9 months pregnant, i'm sure things would be more difficult!!!

i bet you will really like your new schedule. i'll be praying for you & your family as you make the adjustment!!! have a great week!

Jennifer said...

I used to work 7-3 with a 30 minute commute. Bedtime was at 9 and I woke up about 5:00. It was hard but the afternoons were fabulous!

Ms. M said...

I grew up with a mom who worked from 6a-3p... I know it was hard for her, but it was wonderful for me! I got to spend so much time with her. I'm hoping it works out for your family!

And congratulations at being a working mama! I think it's amazing how you all do it. (I'm not a mom, but hope to follow all your examples when I am!)

Unknown said...

Depending on when Lucy goes to bed normally, this schedule could work. I do a 7-3:30 schedule and it really isn't bad at all, though by Friday I am wilting a bit. Just be sure YOU get to bed with enough time an 8 hour sleep too! If you are an easy sleeper then it would be completely worth it to have more Lucy-time :)

And anyone telling you that you're a bad mom for working need to GTFO and STFU. So there.

Anonymous said...

That's great that ur boss is willing to work with you so you can have the evenings home! I use to have to be at work at 5:00 am and work til 1:30. it has hard getting up but so nice to be done with work so early and still have the rest of the day.

Jen said...

Awww...thank you so much for thinking of me, Bev! You are seriously sweet. * muah *

And I'm so sorry your week didn't go as planned. Regardless of how crappy my week was, you are entitled to some complaining.

We get up at 4:30 at our house. Mark works four, 10 hour days. You definitely adjust. BUT, we do go to bed at 9. Good luck!! It will be so nice to have that extra time with Lucy!

Lu P. said...

Hi Bev,

I think you'll love the earlier shift. I do the 6:30 to 4p shift and love it. You skip out on traffic and get home before the dinner rush. Nights will seem so much better with those extra hours before bedtime. Just get a coffee maker with a timer and good morning tunes for the drive and you'll make it just fine!

FSD said...

Good luck! I have a good friend that works that same schedule so she can pick the kids up, start dinner, etc. She loves it! She's also a morning person. It may be tough at first, but you'll get used to it. What is your most treasured time of day with Lucy? If it's the evening, this sounds perfect!

I recently started a part-time schedule - off on M and F. It's awesome! I know not everyone can do it, but if you can even get one day off that would be great.

Good luck once again.

Anonymous said...

As I work too, you'll get nothing from me. You feel guilty at every turn for being a working mom, that's for certain!

No suggestions on the work schedule...I find that when I have to work early AM shifts that trying to go to bed early, having some caffeine (coffee or tea) and, sadly enough, taking a few extra minutes in the morning to get going really makes a difference.

ABLynch said...

I can't really offer any advice since I have a hard time getting to work at 8am, so more power to you. I'm rooting for you!!! I heard it takes 3 weeks to form a habit, so it will get easier!
Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

I also worked an earlier shift and I did love it becuase I could get some really good time in with my full time daycare daughter. Now come Thursday I was crabby. It sucked not seeing her in the morning but my husband got good time with her too. I would do it again in a heartbeat. After having 3 babies in 4 years I really did get used to not having sleep. The hard part is getting up but once you are up you can deal. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with your new hours! It should give you more time to be home with Lucy. Just a thought but what if hubby works in the day and does his school thing at night so you can stay home? Just a thought. I'm sure you've already thought of this option though. Hang in there. You're doing the best you can.
Erika Roberts
Mom to 3 (7yrs, 5yrs, 5 months)
Pasadena, CA.

Beverley said...

Anon, I wish that could work...he just doesn't make enough $$ on his own for me to stay home. Although we have no debt ourselves there are other people in our life that we have chosen to help support and we need my income to do so. Its hard but it really is the best I can do. :)

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