It's working for Kristen E
Boston, Massachusetts
1 child
"Don’t wait for everything to fall perfectly into place. If you want a family, just go for it. Life is perpetually a work in progress."
What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?
Don’t wait for everything to fall perfectly into place. If you want a family, just go for it. Life is perpetually a work in progress.
FOR MOMS: If you breastfed, was there a place for you to pump that met your needs and was conducive to your success? If you breastfed, how did you decide to continue? FOR DADS: What, if any, adjustments did you (or your workplace) make to your schedule after having a baby? Was it specific to your manager or larger, whole work culture?
I chose to breastfeed for all the typical reasons (baby’s health, bonding, etc.). Luckily it’s been pretty easy for us, none of the allergies or latch issues that seem fairly common. We’re still going at 15 months.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
3 months. I was sad and anxious about leaving our daughter at daycare, but also kind of glad to return to something I felt “good at.”
How easy was it to put a childcare arrangement together and did it work for your family?
I think daycare is good for our daughter. She’s learning that the world is bigger than her little family, and she loves being around other kids. I think 4-6 hours a day would be perfect for her, not 9, but she’s thriving.
What was your biggest challenge going back to work?
We work in Boston, but can’t afford to live in the city, so our commute is about 1.5 hours each way. I had to ask to go part time in order to make the daycare pick up and drop off times.