Stepping out on my own

Well, I must say I am glad to be home with babes all tucked in bed and my honey snoring on the couch! There is a comfort in knowing where you belong. I got to remember today that I also belong in other arenas. I have been spending all of my time in the "mother room" of me and there are other important rooms getting a little dusty. I had the chance to step out and be around people who do not refer to me as Mommy for the past two days and it was kinda nice! Eight months into my maternity leave it is reassuring just to know that I am remembered at work. I was offered the opportunity to take part in a two day training on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy at the hospital. A fairly new framework to me and one we are incorporating in some areas of our program, I did not want to miss out. I will admit that I had some reservations before going though.
First of all, leaving Colin with Daddy for two whole days!! Knowing Mike is fully capable this was not the issue but I imagined how difficult it would be for poor little Colin to understand why I had left him for so long! And I did go home at night, so it was really only like 10 hours each day. Hehee, remember, this is not my first baby but my third... I still have to work through all of the same feelings. Due to my fulltime commitment to breastfeeding until just recently I have not yet left him for more than a couple of hours. We did very well! I only called home each day on the lunch break and all was going smoothly.
Secondly, I always have the initial doubts of my ability to access my clinical judgement/skills when I have been away from them. Going to this may have me "found out"! I joked with some of my colleagues that if anyone needed a diaper changed or wanted to play "Pat a cake" that I was their girl! This is usually fleeting as it was this time. I was glad to see a lecture format though!
I got the chance to get my feet wet in order to remember that I do love my work and Colin got to see that his world is broader than my lap, and Mike got to enjoy the full day's experience of caring for his youngest boy. It was beneficial on a personal level and that is not even to make mention of the great skills training.
There are so many opportunities for me to grow as a mother and I have always appreciated the value of time for myself especially if it involves mind stimulation. I do know that time apart gives all of us a time to breathe and a new energy presents itself in our reunion.
An amazing job and new challenges await my return, these also make me a better Mom. I will remember this as the months left at home dwindle away.