workingmom

Yes. I went to my husband a two or three weeks in and said something along the lines of “our life was so good before–why did we even do this?” but I felt so ashamed for even saying that. I try to mention it to my pregnant friends now–that there will almost definitely be a period where you absolutely have second thoughts and maybe regret. But the baby gets easier over time, and you start to build back a life that includes them and someday you’ll realize that you can’t even imagine your life without them.

I know this is in a very different vein than many other people want to hear, but I have made it my mission to say this to a lot of new moms because it would have made such a difference for me:

It’s perfectly fine to want to and be ready to go back to work. If you have a career that you’re good at, and take pride in, and feel accomplished at, it’s really, really okay that you might feel ready to go back to doing that thing that you’re good at, instead of something (newborn care) that is all-consuming, offers you very little control over your day, and has very little sense of accomplishment. Feeling like you’re very ready for mat leave to be over does not make you a worse or less “natural” mother and you don’t have to feel guilty about it. Using different parts of your brain (and heart) during the day can be really good for you and for your kids.