Attached Mamas Working Outside the HomeDo you face the unique challenges of balancing your career with your children? Come on in and talk with other moms who find ways to make their situation work for the whole family.
Location: In Crochet Therapy... I can charge insurance for yarn, right?!
Posts: 3,343
Our first day at the office together, with a pic
Well, I came in this morning to find that our general work area, where my workspace is located, is now full! Our engineers, who formerly had their own office down the hall from us, have moved in with us. This is very good for a number of reasons, but what it means for me is that I now share this space with 4 other guys! All of which are supportive of the idea of breastfeeding, but all of which would be completely mortified at the sight of any flesh in the area of my chest, LOL! And since Silas doesn't care so much to nurse in my sleepy wrap, we'll be making good use of the conference room.
And so with this change in working arrangement, there have been some other improvements in the works - getting more organized, more professional in our communications with clients, etc. - all of which I'm so excited about, and so excited that I didn't have to be the one to come up with these new ideas! Today we collectively spent a good portion of time making great use of many features Google has to offer in order to better communicate with each other, and I'm so happy about igoogle. It's really what I've always wanted in a home page here at the office, and I'm starting to feel like a professional again already.
Silas has been doing great here at the office, and I think that once we settle into a routine I'll be able to get some really good work done. He was happy here all day, slept well, and nursed pretty well, so we're off to a great start! Meanwhile, DH was IMing me about what chores I would like him to do around the house today
I am all teary eyed that your workplace is making this work for you. I know that being back at work isn't your first choice..but wow, what a fabulous compromise.
Cheering you both on...and all your supportive coworkers.
Love to you, sweetie.
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" I choose to be a pioneer of the future and release being a prisoner of the past" Deepak Chopra
How awesome that you are able to take your little one to work with you! I hope things continue to go smoothly for the both of you and you are able to settle into a good routine! HUGS!
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Brooke
Wife to John
Mommy to Madison Lindsay 8/9/03
Mackenzie Grace 10/28/05
You know that I was able to bring Jonathan to work with me until he was just over six months. it was really good for most - for the two of us, for others in the office, and for clients. He was just a great addition to the office and we really bonded being one on one for the time we were at work.
So, I know this has the potential of really working for you!
Location: In Crochet Therapy... I can charge insurance for yarn, right?!
Posts: 3,343
I have been really grateful for the bonding time with Silas! Levi is so busy that my days at home have still been revolving around him - or at best, finding ways to teach him that it can't revolve around him all the time, LOL! And so although I'm still adjusting, I think there are some very positive aspects to this new arrangement.
And everyone at the office seems to enjoy having Silas around - even if I am sharing space with 5 guys, 2 are older dads, 1 a brand-new dad, and the other two come from big, loving families and so are very comfortable being around a little one.
It is awkward for some clients, especially b/c our workplace so easily becomes a place for meetings/discussions, and so I just try to be considerate and maybe take a break and go outside for a bit or something when that happens.
Taking Levi to work was so different - he wouldn't stay asleep for more than 30 minutes at a time, often took an hour of my undivided attention to get him to go to sleep, and he was very quick to cry his loudest. I'm so grateful that Silas seems to be so different. Whew!
I have been really grateful for the bonding time with Silas! Levi is so busy that my days at home have still been revolving around him - or at best, finding ways to teach him that it can't revolve around him all the time, LOL! And so although I'm still adjusting, I think there are some very positive aspects to this new arrangement.
And everyone at the office seems to enjoy having Silas around - even if I am sharing space with 5 guys, 2 are older dads, 1 a brand-new dad, and the other two come from big, loving families and so are very comfortable being around a little one.
It is awkward for some clients, especially b/c our workplace so easily becomes a place for meetings/discussions, and so I just try to be considerate and maybe take a break and go outside for a bit or something when that happens.
Taking Levi to work was so different - he wouldn't stay asleep for more than 30 minutes at a time, often took an hour of my undivided attention to get him to go to sleep, and he was very quick to cry his loudest. I'm so grateful that Silas seems to be so different. Whew!
WHERE do you work?! I think that's great that you can bring him with you! How did you approach your superiors about the idea? I work in a retirement home as an Activity Director so it'd be great if I could bring my lil 'un with me. I'm sure the residents would take to him/her quickly.
Location: In Crochet Therapy... I can charge insurance for yarn, right?!
Posts: 3,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by westcoastgirl
WHERE do you work?! I think that's great that you can bring him with you! How did you approach your superiors about the idea? I work in a retirement home as an Activity Director so it'd be great if I could bring my lil 'un with me. I'm sure the residents would take to him/her quickly.
I'm a land planner at a small landscape architecture/civil engineering firm. My boss is the best boss anybody could ever have. He has always cared more about me than the work I do for him. I've been with him for 9 years; I started as an intern back when it was just me and him in his studio at his house. When I told him I was pg with my first, he got emotional and said it was like one of his kids was expecting!
And it was actually his suggestion that I bring my first son with me to the office. So Levi came with me from about 3 months until about 8 months old. With him, I was only working 3 days/week and at about 6 months old I started leaving him with my best friend some days.
This time, obviously, I'm at the office full time, and so far it's working very well having Silas there. Everybody loves him and enjoys him. We joke about opening up our own daycare/school in our building - since my boss owns the building, LOL. Though I'm the only mom on staff, there's a dad with a newborn, and another coworker homeschools his 2 kids. My boss and his wife raised 3 of their own, and they made sacrifices so she could SAH the whole time. So it's a very family-friendly environment! I am VERY lucky!
I saw your other thread about the SAHM vs WOHM decision, and I know you're getting some great advice there. I would certainly encourage you to think out of the box, and it might be worth asking about at your workplace. The first few months, maybe up to crawling age, might be really easy for you to take baby to work. It depends on your baby's temperment, and it takes a lot of creativity. The reality to accept, however, is that for every 8 hours at the office, I only really work about 5-6. Eventually for us, Silas will start staying home with daddy b/c financially we'll need me to be getting the full 8 in on a consistent basis.
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