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It's been a weird year. Really weird year. Especially the timeless limbo that was maternity leave. At this point, we're getting better at the new normal (although ARR does keep changing things on us). It's a bad night when there are one or two wake-ups, not six. We can get some limited chores done while he plays around our feet. There's some semblance of routine. We sometimes almost feel like we know what we're doing.
Definitely one of the most grueling and stressful years I've had. But also one of the most rewarding. ARR is starting to really interact with the world, and he's thrilled. And so are we. He's an awesome baby.
I had three big goals for 2013, which I think I've done well on. I also had some auxiliary goals, which I expected less success on and which indeed had mixed success.
Primary (from least to most important)
1. Lose baby weight.
Success! Actually, I'm a couple pounds lighter than pre-pregnancy, back at my original goal weight. Score one for breastfeeding. I'm really looking forward to stopping pumping for a host of reasons, but I'm not looking forward to what it's going to do to my metabolism in a month.
2. Don't lose mind.
Mixed success? My memory is definitely still shot, and I have a host of new anxieties. My knowledge of pop culture and current events has become strangely spotty. But I did get through maternity leave without going stir crazy. And I still have a semblance of a life. I don't think I'm too overprotective of ARR. I get out and do things. A coworker recently complimented me on managing to talk about things besides babies, a feat
not all new parents she knows accomplish.
3. Don't lose baby.
Baby has not been left behind at any rest stops or shopping malls!
In general, I think we've been doing a good job. He's happy and healthy, ahead on his gross motor skills, average on the rest. We're not perfect, he's not perfect, but I think we're all struggling along together.
Auxiliary goals:
A1. Manage graceful transition back to work.
Not sure about this one. Definitely some power struggle issues going on, and I now have to face them head on as I start full time again in 2014. But they thought well enough of me to give me a promotion and a raise. So I can't have done too badly.
A2. Get at least two stories published.
Success! Actually, better than that. Stories in Everyday Fiction, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and the anthology Clockwork Chaos. Also, I'm 95% sure I'll have another to announce soon.
A3. Finish revisions on novel and figure out what to do with it.
Failure. I did some gut renovations, but then set it aside before I did a final pass. I just didn't have the attention span this year.
So, 2014--what about you? Here's my new list:
1. Figure out a new work-life balance as I go back full time.
2. Figure out a better way to handle power dynamics at work.
3. Stay vaguely in shape with the new schedule and as I taper off pumping.
4. Get two more stories published.
5. Figure out something with this goddamn novel, no, really this time.
Slightly ambitious. Mostly necessary. We'll see.
Definitely one of the most grueling and stressful years I've had. But also one of the most rewarding. ARR is starting to really interact with the world, and he's thrilled. And so are we. He's an awesome baby.
I had three big goals for 2013, which I think I've done well on. I also had some auxiliary goals, which I expected less success on and which indeed had mixed success.
Primary (from least to most important)
1. Lose baby weight.
Success! Actually, I'm a couple pounds lighter than pre-pregnancy, back at my original goal weight. Score one for breastfeeding. I'm really looking forward to stopping pumping for a host of reasons, but I'm not looking forward to what it's going to do to my metabolism in a month.
2. Don't lose mind.
Mixed success? My memory is definitely still shot, and I have a host of new anxieties. My knowledge of pop culture and current events has become strangely spotty. But I did get through maternity leave without going stir crazy. And I still have a semblance of a life. I don't think I'm too overprotective of ARR. I get out and do things. A coworker recently complimented me on managing to talk about things besides babies, a feat
not all new parents she knows accomplish.
3. Don't lose baby.
Baby has not been left behind at any rest stops or shopping malls!
In general, I think we've been doing a good job. He's happy and healthy, ahead on his gross motor skills, average on the rest. We're not perfect, he's not perfect, but I think we're all struggling along together.
Auxiliary goals:
A1. Manage graceful transition back to work.
Not sure about this one. Definitely some power struggle issues going on, and I now have to face them head on as I start full time again in 2014. But they thought well enough of me to give me a promotion and a raise. So I can't have done too badly.
A2. Get at least two stories published.
Success! Actually, better than that. Stories in Everyday Fiction, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and the anthology Clockwork Chaos. Also, I'm 95% sure I'll have another to announce soon.
A3. Finish revisions on novel and figure out what to do with it.
Failure. I did some gut renovations, but then set it aside before I did a final pass. I just didn't have the attention span this year.
So, 2014--what about you? Here's my new list:
1. Figure out a new work-life balance as I go back full time.
2. Figure out a better way to handle power dynamics at work.
3. Stay vaguely in shape with the new schedule and as I taper off pumping.
4. Get two more stories published.
5. Figure out something with this goddamn novel, no, really this time.
Slightly ambitious. Mostly necessary. We'll see.
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Date: 2014-01-01 09:56 pm (UTC)From:My goals for 2014 are: get funding, be healthy, finish another poetry book, GET FUNDING.