Bite Me

I've decided that the only way to really keep this blog up is to attack it with bite sized chunks. I keep getting put off by having so many things to blog about that I don't blog any of it. Sad, I know. There shall be no retrospective blogging or updates. I shall just be more disciplined. Famous last word!

So today, having had to stop feeling sorry for myself for having an awful viral infection in order to take my son to the orthodontist, IS the day.

Cutting a long story short, we discovered upon a routine dental check up that Elliot had several teeth so badly decayed that he would require root canal therapy. Both milk and adult teeth were involved. It was the worst feeling that any parent could have. I really felt like I had failed him. Obviously, our brushing and flossing routine were not up to scratch. A visit to a paediatric dentist brought more bad news. He also had a problem with his bite which is damaging his front teeth. The decayed teeth, including the adult tooth, would have to be extracted. There was no point trying to save them. That was done recently with no complications.

The newest addition to our fridge magnet collection

Today would be the first appointment of many in Elliot's predicted long orthodontic history. The orthodontist was a lovely elderly fellow, oh so gentle and kind. He had already impressed by in his waiting room. Surely that castle had to be Disney inspired? If not one from Walt Disney World, then perhaps one from Disneyland Paris as demonstrated by the dragon next to the castle. Oh I wished I had brought my DSLR!

Is that Cinderella's castle at WDW?

I digress...back to Elliot. The appointment went well. Elliot had mug shots taken for accurate jaw measurements and to mark future growth. His hair do was unfortunately forever immortalised on the orthodontist's computer. I would have liked to believe that he could have made the cast for Twilight. My mother would have just said that he looked like a rooster. I should have cut his hair before we went. Moulds of his teeth were taken, his bite was documented, and X-rays were taken. All were done efficiently. We return in about 8 weeks with Malcolm in tow to discuss treatment options and costs...sigh. Wish us luck!

No more naps

Tomorrow signals the re-awakening of my non-career. From Mondays to Wednesdays, there will be no more morning and afternoon naps, trips to Ikea, or leisurely lunches with other fellow stay-at-home mums. Yes, tomorrow is the day that I have to go back to my glorious role of Pharmacovigilance Associate in a multinational Pharmaceutical company.

Other than my breaks to have children, I haven't really moved up the career rung. Some will know that I only work for the annual "Lula" Park day. Others have the wrong impression that all I do is ebay at lunchtime and hang around Macquarie shopping centre. Let me tell you the real reason. I work to feed my Disney addiction. Somehow, someone has to pay for all these expensive upcoming holidays! Perhaps the greater significance of tomorrow is the revelation of prices for the 2011 Disney cruises...

In all seriousness, I have conflicting feelings about going back to work. Although the emotions on the surface are those of partial relief for the opportunity to spend some time doing non-children or house related activities, there is a part of me that is deeply saddened by the change that is about to happen tomorrow and what it means.

Working part time over the past few years has always been rewarding because it made me appreciate the best of both worlds. Now that we have had our last baby (yes this is definite and non-negotiable), it makes me even more desperate to hang on to the "home" part of my world, to hang on to the precious moments of my baby's childhood. Going back to work means my baby is growing up! The year has flown by so quickly. I can hardly believe that my baby is about to turn one and is looking more and more like a toddler each day. Suddenly, a career has even less priority than before. I do not want these precious years to be lost. I do not want to worry about how to fit my children around my working days. I want my working days to fit around my children.

I have been very fortunate to have a job that is close to home, part-time, low-stress, pays well, as well as a boss that is very understanding. The company has also been very supportive and understanding during the very difficult months of my pregnancy when I was very ill. All in all, I have been well looked after. To ask for reduced hours during current times would be unfair. And so, I will plough on for the time being. Who knows, maybe the french will one day realise that full time equivalents works much better than having head counts. I only hope that the day arrives sooner rather than later.

Until then, I will just have to savour the 2 weekdays that I am at home and enjoy the HOT chai lattes while I am at work.