Almost over
Monday I go back to work. Eight short weeks ... with Imri I had 12. But money is much tighter this time around.
It's killing me. Each time I think about it my heart starts racing, tears well up and my palms go sweaty. 8 weeks old. She is tiny ... too tiny to leave her mommy's arms.
It's killing me.
Carmel has started smiling at me. She coos and kind of chortles a little. Her temperament is definitely her own - a bit more high maintenance than her brother was. 0-60 in no time flat ... and then it's hard to get her to calm. Early intervention is key with my "just-so" girl. She does have lots of gas and some spit up ... something I never saw with Imri. But for the most part, she is content.
Carmel, you are beyond sweet - so tiny, so cute, so obviously alert and bright. Your face lights up at the sight of me, at the bright lights around you, at the colours on your play-mat. We are just getting to know one another, you and I. I can't stand the thought of leaving you with someone else.
And I have to leave you.
It's plain wrong.
I found a nursing school girlfriend by chance the other day, while surfing the web. She lives in Canada and is home on maternity leave with her second child, who was born in May. Because Canada supports families who have children by giving paid maternity leave.
My daughter was born in September and I have to go back to work. Because here, in one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world, there is no mandated maternity leave, paid or otherwise. In other words, the US government for all its "family values" talk, doesn't give a shit about families.
It's easy to go on and on about cells multiplying in the uterus ... doesn't cost a thing. But when the money needs to go where the mouth is, this government is strangely silent. Unless it comes to asking Congress for even more money for a war we shouldn't be in, in a country whose people don't want us. But care for our own families?? Nah. Why bother? Too expensive. So veto the s-chip bill, Georgie, why don't you, block children's access to health care ... but yell really loud about abortion rights because that costs you nothing.
Yes, I'm not happy. I can't stand the thought of leaving my infant daughter in daycare, all because I'm living in the wrong country. I told John that we are going to be back in Canada before Imri goes into first grade. Non-negotiable.
Please send us good wishes.
It's killing me. Each time I think about it my heart starts racing, tears well up and my palms go sweaty. 8 weeks old. She is tiny ... too tiny to leave her mommy's arms.
It's killing me.
Carmel has started smiling at me. She coos and kind of chortles a little. Her temperament is definitely her own - a bit more high maintenance than her brother was. 0-60 in no time flat ... and then it's hard to get her to calm. Early intervention is key with my "just-so" girl. She does have lots of gas and some spit up ... something I never saw with Imri. But for the most part, she is content.
Carmel, you are beyond sweet - so tiny, so cute, so obviously alert and bright. Your face lights up at the sight of me, at the bright lights around you, at the colours on your play-mat. We are just getting to know one another, you and I. I can't stand the thought of leaving you with someone else.
And I have to leave you.
It's plain wrong.
I found a nursing school girlfriend by chance the other day, while surfing the web. She lives in Canada and is home on maternity leave with her second child, who was born in May. Because Canada supports families who have children by giving paid maternity leave.
My daughter was born in September and I have to go back to work. Because here, in one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world, there is no mandated maternity leave, paid or otherwise. In other words, the US government for all its "family values" talk, doesn't give a shit about families.
It's easy to go on and on about cells multiplying in the uterus ... doesn't cost a thing. But when the money needs to go where the mouth is, this government is strangely silent. Unless it comes to asking Congress for even more money for a war we shouldn't be in, in a country whose people don't want us. But care for our own families?? Nah. Why bother? Too expensive. So veto the s-chip bill, Georgie, why don't you, block children's access to health care ... but yell really loud about abortion rights because that costs you nothing.
Yes, I'm not happy. I can't stand the thought of leaving my infant daughter in daycare, all because I'm living in the wrong country. I told John that we are going to be back in Canada before Imri goes into first grade. Non-negotiable.
Please send us good wishes.
posted by K|nneret at 1:59 PM
10 Comments:
After Smacky I had to go back after 5 weeks and it killed me. Sorry this is happening. It sucks.
Carmel is beautiful.
Don't you get more time off because you had a C-Section??
I couldn't agree more, I think it's barbaric that you have to leave her.
She is gorgeous, btw. What I wouldn't give for a lovely chubby look to my daughter!
I got 8 weeks with c-section. Unpaid. I had let my short term insurance lapse as I wasn't planning on having more kids.
I could get 12 w/ FMLA but everything is unpaid. We need the money as paying the mortgage is kind of important so .. back to work I go.
Not one mandated paid day of mat leave.
I used what little sick time I had, which you can imagine wasn't much with a toddler around the house.
Thank you, Thalia. She's just starting to fill out. POB's turn will come :)
Totally, TOTALLY get the frustration with the US system vs. Canada's (and everybody else's) approach to supporting families. I lived most of my life in Canada, but of course, now that I'm in my child-bearing years, I'm stuck in the US. I work for myself in a private practice, so not only do I not get a single day of paid leave, I have to keep paying my share of monthly expenses the whole time I'm out on leave. Mat leave #2 is coming up sometime in January. I can't even think about it, as it's just too stressful. Couldn't agree more with your other thoughts re: the totally f***ed up priorities of our government.
I am so sorry, Kinneret. It's crap - you are absolutely right. I was due back to work this week and I said I'm not coming back until at least March. For the next 6 months, I'm on unpaid leave - but I've been lucky to receive pay up until this point. It makes me sick thinking about going back when Henry is 8 MONTHS old. I can only imagine how bad you feel leaving Carmel at 8 weeks.
Babies do need to be in their mama's arms. God Speed back to Canada. Can you be there by ... Monday??
Hey Kinneret - throw us a bone when you have a chance and let us know how you're doing. I've been checking in for an update and really hope that you are well. Or as well as could be expected, under the circumstances...
Miss hearing news of you and your family, hope everything is well.
Lisa
So--it's been 2 months now. Does anyone know how things are going with K & kin?
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