Working (On) Motherhood
with Leah
I'm Leah, and in a lucky twist of fate, I've landed my three dream jobs:
book editor, writer, and mother. Since having my son in December 2008, my
work-life has been in constant flux - full-time? part-time? freelance?
working at home or in the office? It depends on the day and which way the
wind is blowing - and figuring out how to keep it all going is a constant
challenge. Heck, I'm still getting used to the idea of being someone's
mom.
Check out my profile on Work It, Mom! and my personal blog, A Girl and a Boy.
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Last time, I was here talking about tattoos and piercings and how they might affect your job prospects, especially if you’re sporting them in places you can’t hide during an interview. Two weeks later, things have changed a bit for me, and hey, guess what you can’t hide, at least not past a certain point and without the aid of smoke and mirrors and creative camera angles and well-placed props? Pregnancy.
Yes, it’s true, WIMmers, I’m pregnant again, and just as my body’s up to all its old tricks (I can barely breathe after a meal for the bloating), my brain is swirling with what this new addition means for my career in the long run as well as my ability to even DO my job in the short-term.
As much as I rebel against the concept of “baby brain,” I also admit that I nearly left the house in slippers the other day–in fact, I did, although I caught myself before I stepped off the porch–and have, for the past several weeks, had an all around harder time remembering what I’m supposed to be doing and when and why (who are you people and why are you in my house asking for dinner?), and I can’t think of anything else to blame it on besides baby.
The last time around, I chalked up my absentmindedness to the fact that I was maybe a little totally obsessed with the embryo/fetus I was growing and couldn’t really concentrate on anything else beyond literal navel gazing. This time, I’m thinking about the pregnancy enough, sure, but I’m also thinking about daycare pickup and preparing healthy toddler snacks and meeting work deadlines and prepping for the holidays and making sure everyone is fed and clothed and at least mostly well-rested, and that no one is walking out the door in his or her slippers. I’m trying to keep it all together–a challenge pregnant or not–and it’s definitely been harder than usual to keep my bearings. This time around I think there might be something chemical going on after all. (But I still take issue with the research that says a woman’s brain shrinks 8 percent during pregnancy!)
Because it’s a topic that never gets old: Where do you stand on the concept of “baby brain” (aka “mommybrain”)? Did being pregnant mess with your mind? Did you fight it or lean into it as an excuse?
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I don’t know about being pregnant, because I never was. But Mommy Brain is most definitely real. I think it just takes time to re-organize the brain for all the changes.
Maybe instead of all the denial, someone should come up with a how-to guide on how best to reprioritize and adjust so the most important things keep getting done.
SKL | November 23rd, 2011 at 8:57 am
My first child is 16 months old and I still have a hard time recalling words at times. It started when I was pregnant, and in the first year after she was born it was *noticeable* that the language parts of my brain were slower — I called everything a “thingamajiggy.” I, too, didn’t believe that “mommybrain” was real, but hoo boy, I can’t deny it — there is definitely something chemical going on, on top of all the new stuff thrown into the mix. As the baby is getting older, though, things are getting better.
ST | November 23rd, 2011 at 10:34 am
I fully believe in it, but I think it’s just plain old tiredness, most likely. I don’t know about you, but in my first trimester with both kids I was EXHAUSTED all the freaking time. Growing a fresh human from scratch takes it outta you!
bethany actually | November 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 am
Before I got pregnant, I could keep mental lists about everything (groceries, to-do, etc.) and nothing got missed. Then I got pregnant with G and had to go out and buy a little notebook to keep in my purse.
Angella | November 24th, 2011 at 7:23 am
my last child after a 13 year interval really did a number on me!
soleil | November 29th, 2011 at 8:29 pm