Friday, September 23, 2011

back to work!

I started back to work on Tuesday past, and even though I felt a little anxious about adding this new routine into our lives, I really felt 'ready' for it. So far it's really working out beautifully and I'm also remembering (all over again) how much I love my job!

I was off work for two years and nine months, with Lilah, the best (almost) three years of my life, so far. And spending every second with my girl over the last few years has bonded us together more than I ever imagined possible. We've only ever had Lilah looked after once, by our close friends, when we went to hear Steven Curtis-Chapman live. And she was only away from me once when she spent five days at camp in the summertime, which of course she absolutely loved, and even begged me to send her back! Oh yes, and she's been in her little 45 minute Sunday School class every Sunday since September 2009.

I know what you're thinking - that poor child, no wonder she LOVES school so much, it's because she's hardly ever been away from you! Truly though, we've loved hanging out together, Lilah has thrived and grown and she knows without a shadow of a doubt that she is loved to pieces. And really, that's all I ever cared about, first and foremost was that she knew she was loved. And yes, maybe I am an overprotective 'helicopter' mother, but that's what mothers are for. I stand to be corrected, but I think there is probably a little bit of helicopter mothering in every one of us!

Anyway, as it stands my employer has allowed me to come back to work part-time (as opposed to full-time) and for that I feel so blessed. I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, which means I get 4 day weekends...sigh...and spend more time with my girl than without her. It's the best thing ever, I know it's only been a week, but I feel that I have a very healthy mix of home and work life now. I'm so pleased and extremely happy.

We have our little routine down pat; Baba drops Lilah off at school at 9am, and I work 7am-3pm, which means I get to pick my girl up at 3:15pm on the three days I work. And the other two school days that I'm not working, I get to walk Lilah to school and home. I'll also be volunteering in her classroom the odd Friday - I'm aiming for once or twice a month.

I have an incredible husband who gave me the gift of staying at home with our daughter, and we have a wonderful daughter that has brought us so much joy. I love them both more than words could ever adequately describe.

I can't help thinking how wonderfully blessed I am.

photography by Vincent Kember @ www.vincentkember.com

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

9 comments:

  1. Love your family picture, it's beautiful.
    Your work schedule sounds great!

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  2. You are blessed with a great job that allowed that time off and then to go back part time, even if you do work for you-know-who!

    The photo is beautiful!

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  3. JILL, GLAD TO HEAR WORK IS BETTER THAN JUST OK! I WORK 3 DAYS TOO WITH A 4 DAY WEEKEND AND ITS "NICE" TO HAVE THE "BEST OF BOTH"! YOU HAVE GIVEN LILAH A GREAT START. JUST CHECKING YOU CAN ACCESS MY BLOG OK? DX

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  4. Hi Debbie,

    Do you have a blog now? I haven't see one attached to your profile for a long time now?

    Let me know.
    Jill

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  5. I LOVE that family picture of the three of you! So glad your first week back has gone smoothly.

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  6. Jill, you are such an amazing mama and so, so blessed with your family!

    I can't wait to hear how returning to work goes! I love that it's part time and you still get to walk to school AND do some volunteering!

    And what a gorgeous family picture!!

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  7. BEAUTIFUL Family picture!!! Love it!

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  8. Yep, you are most definitely blessed. I'm so happy to hear that your first week back to work has been such a good one. Sounds like both of you were ready for this. And it's so obvious that Lilah has absolutely thrived with all of the time you had off with her. Those are (almost) three years well spent. I work three days and week and I really feel like it's the perfect balance. It really is the best of both worlds isn't it?!

    Gin =)

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  9. Jill, this is such a lovely post. I love how you phrased that part at the end about your husband giving you the gift of staying home with Lilah. I have always felt the exact same way but couldn't articulate it properly.

    I'm so glad for you that your return to work is going well - for you, for Lilah and for your hubby. It sounds like you have the best of all worlds!

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