Breakthrough?

No marriage is perfect-throw kids on top of it all and it can get messy. Marc and I are still trying to figure out an effective way to communicate but it is a struggle at times. And the whole appreciation thing, or lack there of, is worthy its own blog. Do you want to show me some appreciation? Don't make out with me as I am trying to go to bed-pick something up.

This weekend Marc finally said to me, "I don't give you enough credit and I know that." I can't even remember why he said it, what had prompted the statement (I know we weren't fighting) but I hope this is a breakthrough. It isn't about who is wrong or who is right for me-it is about what makes the most sense and is best for Lucas. Marc came up with a new plan to help Lucas go to sleep and you know what, it has been working great for about 3 weeks. I am thrilled that bedtime is no longer a huge stress point for us and I know Lucas is responding well to the changes. And I am grateful that Marc decided to make the changes and took ownership of it. That is what it should be like, rather than it being a contest or having to convince him of what seems like the simplest of things.

On a somewhat related note, I have been seriously thinking about changing careers. Since I seem to be the one women come to to share struggles with being a new mom, I have given a lot of thought to the lack of formal support there is. Sure we have our postpartum check up with our docs anywhere from 4-6 weeks after giving birth, but how many doctors really take an interest in how you are handling being a new mom? I know in my appointment, the doc had just come in from delivering another baby and had a waiting room full of women she needed to see. She didn't seem to take a real interest in asking the probing questions-and to be honest with you, I am not sure I would have been honest with her even if she had. But newborns see a ped one week after they are born and several more times in those first few months. Why not have a social worker see every new mom at their well baby visits and see how she is coping? Maybe it is because I had a horrible experience those first 6 months (OK, full year) and want to help other women who might now have full blown postpartum depression but are still struggling.

Of course, to do this, I would need to go back to school and that just seems like a very daunting task right now. My current place of employment does have a top rated Social work program and I could easily convince my boss that it would give me a better counseling skill base which in turn would make me a better counselor for my students. This is true but the end would be a new career for me. It has been a long time since I was in school and the thought of taking the GRE is more frightning than labor all over again. And it would take me a long time to do it-the most I could do was two classes each term. The program is 39 credits-it would take me a little over 2 years to complete. That is without any of my previous grad credits transferring in.