As a young mother in the modern world, I knew my career will always be in a high priority. Yet after spending, 6 months in my current position and being unhappy, I still had a lot of fears and doubts, holding me back from making a move. 

Besides feeling extremely underpaid and not getting a raise, I started to be really worried that I’m making no professional progress. Non of my projects got approved, my budgets got smaller and smaller and my motivation dropped daily.

And even though the change was much needed, for the first time in my life I felt terrified. Who would hire me with a one year old at home? How can I commit to a full time job? What would I say when I’ll be asked to work over time?

So I stayed at my job. Unsatisfied, unappreciated and miserable. Until 2 weeks ago. I decided again to ask for a raise, but the conversation with my manager went like a slap on my face. No raise. No respect. No understanding.

That day I realized, I can’t hold myself back any longer. I have to change things. I have to do it on my own terms, before I find myself out.

And today after applying to great positions in super cool companies I know how much is waiting for me out there. My only obstacle was me.

Lesson learned. Don’t fear. Do.

 After a year of sleepless nights, co sleeping with Saar and night feedings, my hubby decided it’s about time for some major changes. And although I got quite used to operating on 2-4 hours of sleep and really enjoyed sleeping with baby Saar, I had to accept that nothing good will come out of this bad habit. 

But what to do? How to change this habit of falling asleep on my boob? How to help the baby sleep through the night?

I found myself with a ton of questions, ton of Internet info, yet with no answers. 

This is when I understood we need some professional help. After getting some recommendations, we chose the help of a child psychologist, and it became one of the best decisions we made as parents.

Today is 2 weeks after our appointment and our lives are changed. Saar is sleeping in his bed, without crying, for almost 12 hours straight! Hubby and I are sleeping together in one bed! I’m finally getting the much needed sleep! 

Yeah!!!!!

The process wasn’t easy but with a little persistent and patience we did it. And if you’re want my 2 cents on the subject, here are some tips:

1. This is a team project. Be ready to work as one. Support each other and don’t break. 

2. If one of you, like myself, can’t stand hearing your baby cry, leave the house for the first few hours. I went out with the girls, while hubby done the hardest part. 

3. Remove all unnecessary objects from baby’s bed (mobiles, toys etc).

4. Pack on pacifiers. 

5. Feed your baby and make her/him ready for bed. Kiss and hug and say good night. Then put in bed and go out. Baby will cry. Mine cried for an hour and a half 😦 But remember you’re doing a great thing. You’re teaching her/him to sleep. Go to the room every few minutes to kiss and hug, but just for 5 seconds. 

6. Run a sleep log. Write when you started and when the baby fell asleep. Also mark how many times you came in to calm the baby. 

7. Don’t feed and try not to give water through the night. 

8. Don’t take out of bed (unless you have to change or take care).

9. Try to stay calm. 

10. After the baby fell asleep, treat yourself with a glass of wine. You’re totally deserve it 🙂 

  

1. You always packing wet wipes. Even in your clutch. 

2. Your wish list is full of baby gear. 

3. You pay daily visits to the pharmacy. 

4. You only drink cold coffee. 

5. You’re always last to eat. 

6. Work becomes a retreat. 

7. 7:30 on a Saturday: you haven’t had your coffee but you almost done with cooking. 

8. Your beauty routine contains no more than 5 products. 

9. Your washing machine is working extra time, yet your laundry pile stays the same size. 

10. It takes you 2 months to finish a post. 

 Wow, what a crazy week! My first September 1 as a mother. Saar’s first days in kindergarten. No more help from grandmothers. It was challenging, yet so much fun. 

I’m so grateful I found Luba’s kindergarten. I think it’s the perfect place for my little monkey. He’s eating big boys food. Sleeping so much better. And most important  he’s really like it there. When I leave him in the morning he’s all smiles. 

And now the weekend is here, and we’re getting ready for the pool. 

Quality time, here we come!

Enjoy your weekend 😉

  
So as I promised, here’s an update about the goals I set to myself. Unfortunately no significant changes I can share. I was very bad and haven’t tried hard enough. 

1. Waking up at 6:00 – more like 7:00. Still getting to the office too late and as a result coming home late. 

2. Milk pumping – only once at the office and then stressing about it all day long. The worst part Saar had to eat formula, like 3 times during this 2 weeks. 

3. Outsourcing actually went great, but this is only because I’m lazy 😉

4. Baby yoga – no luck here. I really tried to find something in our area, but there’s nothing. I’ll have to work on a rutine to practice at home. 

5. Date night? Sorry husband. I neglected you for to long. Promise to find the time this week. 

6. I had some time for jewelry making, will share them with you soon. Weekly projects are definitely on!

7. No inspiration boards, yet. 

8. I’m finding few minutes for pampering, but this is not enough. Need to schedule a meni-pedi ASAP. 

9. Almost weekly appointments with my Chinese therapist are live and running. My body is grateful. 

10. Unfortunately I can’t leave work early, because I coming to the office to late. But I think this will change as soon as Saar will start going to kindergarten. 

I’m not giving up and promise to try harder in the following weeks. 

Have a great weekend 🙂 

The last 3 weeks was simply crazy. Working full time job, while raising a baby, is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done.

With so much to do and so little time, it’s easy to get lost. This is why this post is my decision to take back control and improve my time management skills. In the following weeks I plan to:

1. Wake up at 6:00, so I have some morning quality time with Saar, time to pump milk, get ready and be at the office before 8:00. 

2. Pump milk at work, every 3 hours, so I won’t need to worry about milk supply. 

3. Outsource as much work as possible (cleaning, shopping, cooking etc.).

4. Find yoga or work out that I can do with Saar.

5. Schedule a weekly date with my love. 

6. Make time for a weekly project (jewelry, crafts, photography etc.).

7. Make inspiration boards. 

8. Find time for pampering. 

9. Schedule weekly dates with Sharon my Chinese therapist.

10. Leave work early once a week, for a special time with Saar. 

In 2 weeks I’ll update on my progress. Wish me luck 🙂

 So this is it, my maternity leave is over. After 4 amazing months spent with my boy, tomorrow I’m going back to the office.

I never was the maternal type. I didn’t even wanted children for most of my life. I didn’t think I would be a great mother, and didn’t want to ruin my life with a child. But than I grew older, met the perfect man and things changed.

Even while pregnant, I always doubted my ability to be a good mother. But as soon as I went into labor, something changed inside me. I was calm and relaxed. I was nice to the people around me (I was never nice in stressful situations before). The spoiled little bitch inside me disappeared and a mother was born. 

I still can’t believe motherhood will be so easy to me. Like I was preparing for this all my life. The first time I held Saar in my arms, I knew everything will be ok. 

I stopped caring for the stupid little things. I didn’t mind staying at the hospital (there’s nothing I hate more than hospitals and doctors). I didn’t mind eating hospital food, and forgot that I was dreaming about sushi and bloody steaks for 9 months. I didn’t mind waking up every 2 hours and run to the nursery. And every time I held my boy I felt the biggest love and joy possible.

4 months of pure love and happiness are behind us, and so much more is yet to come. It wasn’t always easy, but even in the most challenging moments I felt nothing but gratitude. I regret nothing, and know I done and still doing my best. 

Today is the last day, and tomorrow I’ll wake up, feed Saar, get ready and go to work. It will be hard. I’m going to cry all the way to the office. But I refuse to feel guilty. I know I’m doing the right thing for our family. I’m going back to a job I love, and Saar is staying in the loving hands of his family. 

My baby made me a better, happier person and I’ll do everything to give him the best happiest life, by making every moment count. 

Let’s start a new chapter. Let’s do it.