This time 23 weeks ago we were in a hospital room and I was still pregnant. Within hours we would hold the most amazing person we’ve ever met and are lucky enough to know. At the time I didn’t know what was about to happen to us, other than as a sort of academic / theoretical idea of what it might all be like.
The post-natal midwife said to me that the women who are used to working and successful have the hardest time adjusting to life at home with the baby. She advised me to think of it as a season in my life, relax into it and remember that all too quickly it would be over. At the time I nodded and smiled. I didn’t really get it. Now I think I do – while I don’t think I managed to really relax, it definitely helped me to remember that so I didn’t go mad.
My life has been completely different for 5 months. I haven’t enjoyed some parts of it (unrelated to Edie), but it’s been a privilege to spend this past spring and summer with our daughter. We’ve been together nearly every day of this “season” together, her starting to figure out the world and me starting to figure out how to raise and support her through it.
As February has become March the humidity has left the air. Autumn is here and it’s time for something new. Our next season starts tomorrow and we’ll figure it out together.