Talking abt working...I was working the whole day today and missed Dre very much! Came back to find not only did I miss the physical her, I missed seeing q a few of her "firsts"! Sigh..the price to pay for taking on projects...makes me so wanna want to give them up rightaway!
I empathise with some of the wives here who have have to bear with the never-present hubby syndrome. Though most of you would think that it seems great that SF is at home all the time - the truth was, we had our share of the workaholic days. He used to work like there was no night and day...and there were stretches when deadlines were tight, he stayed over in office for days! I rem bringing supper and waiting hours for him to knock off and he never did which was a source of much resentment - thus, sometime in 2008, we reflected and felt if we wanted a family, we have to sacrifice our careers and definitely, the wonderful vitamin M that came with it. SF has paid a huge price for stepping away from the career scene at the height of his career and he knows the return would prove difficult. But he wants so badly to be a really good Dad and feels the only way to do that is to be there for his child who is now, Dre. No handing over to Mum, MIL, or the maid. It's DIY or don't have a kid for us. He has determined that this sacrifice was worth it - but not everyone would think that way of his decision.
Thus, our income levels have fallen by more than 50% as I have also made a decision not to work full time anymore. This decision by both of us to be there, 100% for our firstborn for at least the first three years, at the height of our income earning years...I suppose, it is really something we have thought so hard about and still doubting every now and then. We don't come from very well-to-do households, just average, abv average kinda where both mums were working...and we were both brought up by maids or some outsider...there is certainly a sense of detachment there which we hope Dre would not experience. This is just a personal viewpoint.
Parenting is a tough journey. Even with SF around, I still feel very lonely at times (esp with the bfg issues...) and just last week, I was quite sure I was slipping into depression. Depressed because I was just utterly exhausted running after my hyper bunny who doesn't nap and can stay awake for more than 12hrs straight. Plus I think I must be crazed because I kept having thoughts that Dre must be autistic or something is wrong with her. Not-so-good-thoughts, some too dark to share at all. See..quite loony right? But I recognised that I was beginning to fray at the ends because I was trying to do too much - cleaning, cooking, caring, working..so I made up my mind to hire help and have felt so much better since. The stress and loneliness can really get at you..thus, it is vital to make friends, joke, humour, know that you are not alone...try also, to look beyond these issues because before you know it, that babe in your arms is growing so fast..for you to spend it moping about or griping or worse, squabbling with the significant other..
I am still struggling with my odd contracts and my feelings of guilt everytime I needed to run for an engagement. Trying to concentrate on my work when at the back of my mind, I am thinking of Dre and whether she needs a feed, cuddle etc..toughie! But like some others here, my industry is very unforgiving and too much time away from it, would mean that I would have lost the contacts I have built for almost a decade now.
So..whether you have 1hr or 10hrs with your baby, just try to fill it with pure love. I am sure you will find peace in that. As for that significant other who is busy creating a financially-free future, give him the support without complaints and I hope he will truly appreciate the sacrifices you have made and not let the household down in any way. Ganbate mummies...