Tales From The Crib: Maxine
WPC: Tell us about yourself!
Maxine: As I write this, it’s my 4 year wedding anniversary. My Husband and I joke how quickly things move along for us and in those 4 years since getting married, we have renovated a house, had two babies ages 2 (well, almost 3) and 1 year old and acquired a business. A lot has happened in 4 years.
By profession I am a Registered Dietitian. After I had my first, I knew it wasn’t a job I could return to and looked for other opportunities for my growing family. We decided to become franchisee for a large coffee & restaurant chain when my little guy was only 6 months old, I went back to work in the most intense work environment I have ever experienced. It was my own business which meant I had to work harder than ever before. I hired the best nanny I could find (my mom!) and she watched my little guy for a few months before we felt he was old enough to go to daycare
WPC: What have been your biggest challenges since becoming a parent?
Maxine: Life has become a balancing act. I run a household and a business. Between the two, I have many people relying on me, and it can be exhausting. My family comes first, but there have been many times that I have already been at work by the time my kids wake up, or I’m not able to put them to sleep because I have to work. Not being able to be there for my kids when they want me is a challenge I couldn’t have prepared for. Another unexpected challenge is the lack of down time. I am someone that likes to always be moving and doing something, but being a parent and business owner has made me realize how much I need downtime. As a dietitian, I always have food in the back of my mind, I used to love walking around a grocery store to find new products to recipe test. Now, deciding on meals to suit the family is also a challenge I hadn’t expected and walking around a grocery store now feels like a chore.
WPC: What have you found helpful to address these challenges?
Maxine: I love my children more than anything in the world. And I love my time away from them just as much. I went back to work with my first too soon and with my second I felt it wasn’t soon enough. Being at home and feeling idle isn’t for everyone. I enjoy her more now that I don’t see her day in and day out while trying to get work done and all she wants to do is play. She gets so much attention from great caregivers at her daycare and we both come home happy at the end of the day. In order to manage all my challenges, I have hired a manager at the store to take on some of the smaller daily challenges. I find time in my days at least once a week to have down time. It looks different every week, could be meeting a friend for lunch, a manicure or simply quiet time in the car catching up on emails and text messages while my kids sleep ( why would they make it home to nap in a bed?). I have also started to use online ordering for groceries to save time.
WPC: If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pregnant self?
Maxine: There is very little you can plan and prepare for. Just like your wedding, you plan for the day and not the marriage, many people fear and plan for a birth, but little to no thought goes into caring for a baby and what it entails. I wish I had known the first 100 days are hardest. There will be tears. Lots of tears. Oh… and the baby will cry too.
Anything you chose to do for your babe is the best choice, forget what others are saying or doing. Only you can know what is best for you and your family.
WPC: If you could, what is one thing you’d change about parenthood in our culture?
Maxine: You will never be a Pinterest mom- and that is ok.
Feeling overwhelmed with the demands of parenting and professional life? Explore our parenting consultation services for strategies to manage stress and maintain balance. For deeper support, consider our psychotherapy sessions to navigate personal and family challenges more effectively.
