Balancing career, parenting, chores, cycling..

[xeney]

I have an office, and my work is all appellate work so I don't have to go to court except for oral argument. But nobody ever respects the "do not disturb" sign and there is a sort of office culture of "knock and enter," without waiting to see if it's a bad time. And really it's just the interruption of billable hours that makes it so difficult. (That and the fact that we are in an ancient building where any extra electrical appliances will blow a circuit ... I would have to use a manual pump, there is no place to plug in an electric one unless I want to unplug my computer three times a day. Oh, man, I can't wait to get out of there.)

We already have our bike trailer and I just bought the jogging conversion kit and infant insert so I can use it right away even if we have to wait a year to use it on the bike. I am being realistic about the fact that I'm not going to be doing much if any riding for the next year, but I should be able to run. I'd rather ride, but I will take what I can get.

[maillotpois]

Oh, well, the plug thing is sort of a deal breaker. Hmm. I will say that I think they may have better battery models than they did 10 years ago....

[Triskeliongirl]

What an interesting discussion! Xeney, while I see for you that working at home makes sense, just for the record, expressing milk doesn't mean pumping. I used to have a routine where I would manually express once a day at work, both breasts simultaneously and get two bottles worth in about 15 minutes. I did have a private office with a lock (you could always intall your own lock that can't be opened from the outside). I basically put two jars in my top desk drawer with two large funnels inside, bent over, thought of my baby, and did it. It did get stressful if I didn't get enough, and then I would have to wake up during the night and do it. My daughter couldn't tolerate formula so I didn't have a choice. A private office makes it a lot easier, but once I had a technician that was pumping and I let her use my office, which was good cuz it forced me into the lab. Now our university actually has rooms for nursing mothers, equipped w sofas, pumps, baby pics, etc. Times have changed.

I also had one of those baby backpacks! I also remember going to scientific meetings and visiting poster sessions with a baby on my back in my younger days.

[singletrackmind]

maillotpois, every time I see that avatar I get a smile....a metric century is great, wonder how long it'll take before the boyo can go that far? Well, we'll see, we'll see. I'm ecstatic with the 20+ milers we've done, but almost can't wait to get back to regular mileage....specially since I won't be pulling the trailer against the wind anymore.

xeney, we started in the trailer at five months, when he could hold his head up with a helmet on. We started short til he built up strength (pretty quickly). Having pillows to sleep or rest on was a big plus for him.

My sister is a single working mom who is also going to school to become a nurse. She's now on the last of her 6 year schooling. How she does it mystifies me, but she does. Her kid is clean, well-behaved, confident and in the gifted program at her school. And with a near deadbeat dad as well. Amazing!