Back to Reality

Last Thursday (February 9) marked the 10-week end to my Maternity Leave, and the beginning of work, post-babies. It was bittersweet… I loved having the time off, spending everyday with my growing girls, and becoming addicted to Hoda and Kathie Lee. Exhausting as it was, I was actually able to get a lot done around the house (i.e. cleaning, laundry) during the 3-4 hour windows of naptime. I enjoyed going out with the girls, going shopping while everyone else was at work. I liked being home when Bruno got home from work, and finally talking to someone my own age! I enjoyed being able to visit people when I wanted, and just having time to do things.
But I was getting anxious to come back to work. I’ve missed my friends here, and I’ve missed being productive. I really like my job, and I now feel more like a contributing member of society. Plus, I’m getting a paycheck again!

So coming back to work, it was like I never left. I chatted with my friends, and got back to the computer. A lot of people had asked why I went back to work on a Thursday, as opposed to the beginning of the week. Well my coworker, who’s daughter is about 15 months old, suggested it. It makes the transition a little easier, not having to be gone from the girls for a whole week. Plus, our company has ½ day Fridays, so really I only had to work 1 day and a half before the weekend – awesome! We didn’t have the girls starting daycare until that following Monday, so we weren’t quite on a schedule just yet. Bruno’s mom had them Thursday, and Bruno worked from home on Friday until I got back.

Our plan for daycare was to have them enrolled 3 days a week and spend 2 days with Bruno’s mom. So when I called the daycare to confirm we had all the necessary paperwork, and to double check our payment for the following week, we were given some unexpected news…

Me: So we have them coming to daycare Monday, Wednesday and Friday, correct?
Daycare: Um, no. We have the girls down for full-time.
Me: Um, what? What do you mean full-time? We discussed 3 days a week!
Daycare: We don’t have any openings for 3 days a week.

Panic ensues. Having the girls in daycare full-time meant an additional $600/month that we weren’t planning for. Could we afford it? Yes. But it just makes our budget that much tighter. But there was nothing we could do. It was honestly just some miscommunication and we didn’t have another option. So full-time it would be.

Day 1 of Daycare - Luciana does not look happy!



Now that the girls have been in daycare for a full week, we both agree that it maybe was the better choice in the end. Sure, it would have been great to have the girls spend time with their grandmother 2x a week, learning Portuguese. Sure, it would have been great to save an extra $150 each week. But at least this schedule keeps them on a schedule. It gives the girls, and us, a consistent routine. The teachers will get to know them better. They’ll socialize with their little baby friends. It’s a good thing.

Later in the week - Milena waves bye



Since we close early on Fridays, I will be able to pick up the girls and spend the rest of the afternoon with them. I’m going to love it, because I do miss them during the day and I hardly have any time with them during the week. Last Friday, I visited them before heading out of town and what did I see on the way? A Chick-Fil-A! Looks like it will be Chick-Fil-A Fridays with the girls from here on out. Yay! I am also going to try and squeeze in some gym time on Fridays as well, since 2x last week I was asked if I was pregnant. Yikes!