The Reality of Being a Working Mom

Editor's note: I started to include this as part of another post, but realized that life as a working mom deserved it's own post. So here goes!I spent a good amount of time on the phone with my older sister yesterday. She has a six month old at home (I cannot believe Nat is 6 months!) and is a working mom, too. I find it hilarious how similar our problems are these days. Pumping all day. Washing bottles. Lack of sleep. The reality of being a working mom is hitting me - and although I may complain on the phone with my sister, it really isn't all that bad. It's simply just very different than it used to be.I went to work when Finn was 9 weeks old. It wasn't nearly enough time for either of us, and at the time I really didn't want to go back to work. However, I can say that since Finn has had to wake up at the same time every day, eat at the same time every day, and spends time socializing with other people and babies at daycare, he has been so much more fun and much more content overall! Getting him into a routine was the best thing we've ever done for him, and we didn't even mean to do it.Getting me into a routine has been a little more challenging. I set my alarm for 6am every morning and end up snoozing until 6:15. I immediately have to pump so Finn has food for the day. That takes about 25 minutes. I then start to get ready for the day hoping Finn stays asleep. If he wakes up, I wake up David (he's been working second shift so he gets home late, which adds a totally new element to all of this). Once I'm ready I start to pack all the bags. Finn's diaper bag, my work bag, my pump, extra bottles for the breast milk, my lunch. In the meantime, someone has to run Juneau out for his morning walk (which sometimes I happily do just to have a little moment to myself before the day begins!)I typically run Finn to daycare since it's on my way to work, but if I'm running late, David will take him. Sometimes I swear he makes me late on purpose so he can spend an extra hour or so with Finn :)During the workday, it's tough to get into any kind of routine. Between meetings and filming (I'm a video producer), I try to pump every 2-3 hours, but it's tough to nail down a normal schedule. Plus, all the bags.Pumping at work is an ordeal in itself. My office has designated a space for breastfeeding moms, and since I'm the only one of those at the moment, I don't have to worry about anyone else's schedule. The room itself is less than ideal - it's off the bathroom, with a curtain - no door, and has one old sofa in it. I'm not one to make a huge fit about these types of things - it's a room and it will do. I tend to pump 3-4 times at work, depending on my workload and schedule that day and each session lasts around 20 minutes.My wardrobe has to be well thought out due to pumping. Easy access is always preferred, but I only have so many button up shirts or dresses (and this lingering baby weight limits my options even more).After a full day at work, I pick my Finn man up (best part of the day!) and head home. He's usually super smiley to see me, so that helps. Juneau is super excited when we get home, so I throw Finn in the Baby Bjorn and walk Juneau around the neighborhood. (Side note: I really do feel for Juneau these last few months. I know he is jealous of all the attention Finn gets and any chance I have to spoil him, I take it!) Based on my energy level, I try to get in a short sweat-sesh. Abs, cardio, sometimes yoga. If I'm not feeling it, then I don't stress myself out about it.Finn eats, I eat, Juneau eats, bottles are cleaned, Finn gets a bath, a book, and a tuck-in, I blog, and watch countless episodes Real Housewives on repeat. I really don't get to sit down until around 8pm. I pump agains once I'm home and once before I go to bed. David gets home around 10:30, the same time I dream feed Finn (best thing ever! He essentially just eats while sleeping and the big meal keeps him sleeping through the night). David and I catch up on our days, and I try to be in bed before 11pm.Life is certainly chaotic and I realize that it's only going to get more so once we have a mover and a shaker!