We are now at T-12 days to Cheryl's due date. Here is a picture of her practicing with her nephew Ethan. (This picture is actually more than a year old now.) I was at the gym this morning as was listening to REM. Old REM. High School REM. It got me thinking about phases in life and change and age and things. Obviously, Cheryl and I are about to enter a whole new phase of our lives. After almost 10 years of marriage we are going to be having our first child (a girl) in a couple of weeks or so. This event will bring a profound change to our lives and our daily activities. I think no matter how many people you talk to or how many classes you attend you cannot be ready for an event of such magnitude. Having a wee one who is completely dependent upon you for everything will be a tremendous change from how we have lived these past 10 years.
Cheryl is home on maternity leave now (her office makes you take off 2 weeks before your due date, but since her office gives 16 weeks of paid maternity leave that is not too bad). I am taking 2 weeks paid parental leave (that's all I get, which is pretty standard for US companies I believe) once the birth occurs. By March Cheryl will be back at work and the baby will be in day care.
I do telecommute from home, but I work when I am home working. A few people have said things like, "You don't need daycare, Curt is home all day." Yes, I am home (when not traveling...remember that when we first moved to NY I was about 75% on travel...that is 3 weeks out of every month). But I am working. I am answering the business phone line, I am making calls, I am writing reports, I am managing staff and finances for a $7M program, I am busy. I am not sitting around watching TV. And I have to bill my time. The time spend writing this blog entry is time I have to make up. So if I am constantly stopping work to change a diaper or to feed our infant, that is all time that does not count as work and I cannot bill it. Therefore I don't get paid. And if I don't get paid we're moving into a smaller place.
Anyway, I got off point here (or "off message" as they say in West Wing). The point is, change is coming. Countdown has begun. Crib, diapers, and clothes are purchased. Stroller and car seat are ready. Things are becoming real. Soon I will go from being "Curt" to being "Dad".
7 comments:
But will you be Captain Dad? :)
Yes, and Cheryl will be Envoy-General Mom. Or CAPT (ret) Mom. Or, switching to my D&D alter-ego, I'd be High Lord Dad and Cheryl would be High Lady Mom.
Humm...High Lord Dad. I like the sound of that.
"Dad you're embarassing me!"
"That's my dorky Dad!"
"Dad drop me off 2 blocks away so my friends won't see me!"
:)
...so my friends don't see me with you"
:)
FYI: unfortunately, 2 weeks paid parental leave is NOT standard for US companies, so count yourself lucky!
"Dad drop me off 2 blocks away so my friends won't see me!"
I didn't know my child would have the powers of invisibility.
;-)
I didn't know my child would have the powers of invisibility.
Well if you are High Lord Dad, you can probably give those powers to her! :)
Post a Comment