Like many parents on leave over the last year, my expectation of my parental leave was very different to the reality. I thought I would be a pro at it my second time round - I knew where all the baby groups were, what happened each day, the grandparenting strengths of my parents and mother in law, parent friends good to go for playdates, or just a strong coffee after a sleepless night. And then… Well, everyone knows the end of that sentence. So after having my son in August, we were lucky enough to have all grandparents stay and make it out with our four year old for a few dozy newborn adventures during that fourth trimester period where in many ways time, and the difference between night and day, loses all significance. The end of this sleepless period arrived in November, when, faced with lockdown 2, I began to realise that hopes of any real normal leave were fast disappearing. Which felt tough, and worrying. Mostly because I knew that, as much as I adore my son, spending all time wi...
Like many parents on leave over the last year, my expectation of my parental leave was very different to the reality. I thought I would be a pro at it my second time round - I knew where all the baby groups were, what happened each day, the grandparenting strengths of my parents and mother in law, parent friends good to go for playdates, or just a strong coffee after a sleepless night. And then… Well, everyone knows the end of that sentence. So after having my son in August, we were lucky enough to have all grandparents stay and make it out with our four year old for a few dozy newborn adventures during that fourth trimester period where in many ways time, and the difference between night and day, loses all significance. The end of this sleepless period arrived in November, when, faced with lockdown 2, I began to realise that hopes of any real normal leave were fast disappearing. Which felt tough, and worrying. Mostly because I knew that, as much as I adore my son, spending all time wi...