Well, I'm back, and it feels like home. Except here there's no crying baby, no stinky diapers, no mushy cookies stuck in the rug and no one pulling at my leg to be picked up. I guess it's a little better than home in some ways. I've been on maternity leave for a year now, although it feels like it's been only a month or two, and my darling baby Kaitlyn Rose Wood is now 10 months old.
I wasn't sure how I'd adjust to being a mummy and staying home. I envisioned long boring days doing housework and making dinner while rocking a bassinette with my foot. Truth be told, the housework rarely got done, and dinner was often heated from a can.
The rocking a bassinette with my foot thing did happen, though, but only because my arms were too sore from holding and bouncing my colicky baby.
It's amazing how much a tiny baby can cry. Despite the rough start, I found myself adjusting quite well to the stay-at-home-mum thing and happily identifying with the role.
Who knew playing patty-cake, going to the park and watching children play was so much fun? Still, I'm happy to be back at work part-time. It gives me a chance to get back to my first love, writing - while spending time with my new love, Kaitlyn.
I'm back on my old beats here at the paper. You'll see me at Sechelt council, school board and various community events.And after work you'll probably see me at the park, shopping for tiny shoes or searching for a detergent that gets puke stains out of fake suede.
I hope I'll be a better reporter now that I'm a mother.
I can definitely multi-task and have no problem functioning on four hours of sleep - well, no problem a carafe of coffee can't cure. I'm a better listener than I used to be. If someone's crying, I can probably tell if they want food, a diaper change, attention or a nap. I have much more patience, so no more drumming my fingers on the table during council meetings.
And I care more than I used to about this community.
During the past year, I have met so many amazing people in our community who have helped me stand, listened to me cry, offered their support and encouragement and worked to help me be a better mother.
That's not something you'd see in a big city. There's something comforting about our community - a feeling that although we may not all be friends, we all seem to care about each other, at least a bit.
Sounds gushy and un-reporter-like, I know, but if I get any flack for it later, I can always blame it on hormones.
So, I'll see you out there in this great community of ours, and if you have a news tip or know a way to get babies to sleep through the night, please stop and talk.
