I packed a bag last night for the hospital. That was very odd. To plan to take a bag somewhere and come back not just with the bag but with a kid. Surreal does not begin to describe the feeling.
Even more odd is how to deal with work. I am directly involved with seven companies at my firm, a mix of east and west coast. While I am out, certain responsibilities have to be "transitioned" to others. This phenomenon, though temporary, is very unsettling. Don't read that wrong - I am thrilled to work at a firm where we plan for these things and people are willing to take the ball when I pass it. But just the same, I am not typically one to ask others to do things for me, to take over, to manage something I feel is primarily my responsibility.
I guess the answer is "Get used to it" because when I come back I will be transferring some of that other responsibility - motherhood - to someone I don't even know yet. Someone I - WE - that being the husband wife unit - DO NOT EVEN KNOW yet. That is going to be very very odd.
But for now I will focus on work. I am trying to tie up lose ends, get things in order, allow for an easy transition. We'll see how it goes, and I hope that what comes around (what I ask for) goes around (I can return). I suppose this is what would happen if a man had a heart attack, or had to take a leave for some other reason, but let's be honest, this is about the realities of women in the workplace. And I thank my lucky stars every day that there are people here who get it, offer to help, seem excited to carry the ball for a while and are generally supportive.
But all that said, it goes against the grain for me, and it still feels odd, uncomfortable and weird.
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