Happy New Year everyone, parents, mummies, daddies, babies! So after 2 whole weeks of enjoying 24/7 time spent with First-Time-Mum and First-Time-Baby reality hits. Back to the grindstone, back to the office, leaving the family at home.
Is working from home feasible? Yes I think it is, with modern technology I could remotely log in to my computer, reroute my telephone calls via Skype or another internet telephony VOIP service. I would definitely cut down on wasted meetings, and I generally find that an hour's work at home is equal to a half day in the office! Some people just don't work well in open plan offices, and I am definitely one of them!
I hope you had a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. It was First-Time-Baby's first Christmas and New Year so it was very exciting for us, although being just 3 and half months old I'm sure much of the festivities passed First-Time-Baby by... although she loved her presents, especially the Baby Bouncer.
But, alas, I'm now back in the office, staring at the computer screen, looking at work, but thinking about my wife and baby. My desktop wallpaper has been changed to an image of First-Time-Baby taken over New Year and I'm left debating the merits of working in London and commuting in. The result is less time to spend at home with the family, but more money to ensure we can enjoy the time at home.
I don't feel jealous of First-Time-Mum being on maternity leave, I'm pleased! I know I couldn't do what she does, the constant stimulation for First-Time-Baby, the constant attention. I struggle to multi-task enough to brush my teeth and breathe at the same time, so looking after First-Time-Baby and being able to eat/get dressed/go out, even... there would be no hope for me. What I do feel, is that I miss spending time with them. I miss being there, being part of First-Time-Baby's early month's education. First-Time-Mum spends hours every day talking to First-Time-Baby, reading books to her, showing her objects, listening to her, praising her as she makes new noises and interacts back, and consoling her as all her teeth try to come through at once.
2008 is going to be a great year. First steps, first words, a whole year of enjoying the company of a new baby. New Year's resolution? Enjoy the non-work time more, make more of the family time... oh and investigate working from home more!
