When I was a kid, my mom went all out for the holidays. There were the homemade Easter baskets, the green milk and green pasta in my lunchbox for St. Patty’s Day, and a different Christmas advent calendar for every room in the house. I always knew I’d carry on these traditions when I became a mother myself, but already I’m realizing it’s harder than it looks. Time is short and priorities are always shifting and most of the time I don’t even know what day of the week it is. Heck, I might need an advent calendar for every holiday; nothing like a square of chocolate to help me count down to Arbor Day! 
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Last week was my first day back at work, and for all the nerve-steeling and tearduct-sandbagging I’d done in preparation for this next big step in my mothering life, I’m suprised and relieved to report that it wasn’t that bad at all. Awkward (but not impossible!) pumping process aside, it was actually downright great to be back among the grownups. Great to shower and do my hair and brush my teeth and drive into town with a hot mug of tea, knowing I’d be able to finish it while it was still warm. Glorious! Even though going back to work would mean stepping back into a position of myriad serious responsibilities, I was thrilled to know that at least none of those responsibilities would leak on me. When I got home from the office that first evening, it was with an invigorated spirit and a clean shirt; I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. It wasn’t until my second day of work that things started to get complicated…
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