Long Days, Short Years

I saw a pharmaceutical rep last week who came to the office to talk 
about new treatments for infections.  She also brought along a photo 
book filled with photos of her 4 month old baby. He’s so cute, but so 
cute. Chubby cheeks and soft downy hair, toothless smile and proud 
parents.  She was beaming, smiling and her eyes sparkled as she talked 
about her beautiful boy.  I noticed dark circles under her eyes and 
that weary, yet content look that so many of my patients have.  I 
asked her what surprised her most about motherhood.  She smiled and 
her eyes crinkled, “I had no idea that I would be this tired.  This 
happy, yes, but I’m worn out.  She told us about her schedule.

She goes to bed around 10, gets up at 2 to feed the baby, and then 
gets up again at 5:30 to pump.  By 6 am, she’s feeding the baby, then 
showers and gets him to day care.  Then she heads off to the first of 
many calls, trying to sneak in time and find a private place to park 
and then pump her milk.  We offered her the use of one of our offices, 
but she said she had a system, and was heading to her car soon to pump 
again.

I thought about her.  I’ve known her for over 6 years, when she was a 
single woman, when she got engaged and then when she brought in photos 
from her wedding.  Now, here she is a new mom and managing to make it 
all work. “I know that I won’t always be this tired, but some days I 
just can’t wait to go to bed. I can barely keep my eyes open.”  When 
you’re living like this day after day, it seems that things will never 
be different, but as I’ve heard so many other moms say, This too shall 
pass.  These are long days, but short years.