Follow up - more thoughtfulness (no pictures)

Oh, and so, the whole thing from the last post about having lunch with my co-worker? I don't want to be negative and discouraging - but I also think that we need to be realistic. I want to cry and tell her it's the hardest thing she'll ever do, but that she should still do it. I want to tell her how great it is to (sometimes literally) run into daycare and be greeted by your baby's smile and his open arms. I want to tell her how hard it is when you pick your baby up at daycare and he screams half the way home.  I want to tell her how much I have cried over the past five months - because I just. don't. know. if I can do it anymore. And I want to tell her that I have no answers, only questions - and that you have to just live life day by day and hope that each day gets better.

In reality? I'll probably tell her it's fine - you just have to get on a schedule and into a routine. And when your husband is out of town? Well, you sleep a little less, spend a little less time in the office (and work a little more in the evenings), cry a little more and eat a lot of frozen and pre-prepared food.  And that it does get better.  I barely remember how sleep-deprived I was in January (I guess that's how they get you to have a second kid - how quickly memories fade).  I mean, can anyone say they're a pro at anything parenting-related? 

I met a mom in the nursing lounge at Nordstroms on Saturday (I really don't know what I'd do without the Nordstroms nursing lounge).  She had a three year old and was nursing her two month old.  She asked me if I wanted to have a second and then quickly corrected herself - recognizing it was still too soon for me to know.  She then went on to tell me that even though she's been through three years already, her second one is entirely different.  I mean some things are the same - but really, each kid is different and maybe your expectations are better for your second, but the experience itself is still new. 

So, what will I say to my co-worker on Wednesday?  I really don't know.  I'll probably try to read her and see what I think she needs to hear from me.  If she needs to hear that it will all be okay and that I've found a way to manage things, then I'll tell her that.  If she needs to hear me say it's super hard and she needs to rally all the support she can get, then I'll tell her that.  And no matter what, I'll do my best not to cry!