Well, it’s official I am unemployed until December, and I am both unbelievably excited and completely sad at the same time…it really is bittersweet. I decided to go on maternity leave early, because my long days and 3 hour round trip commute time were starting to wear me down (and cause some massive cankles). I have been off of work for a week now, and I must admit I feel like a new woman! I am extremely excited to be able to relax and prepare for the baby, but leaving my office was hard. I have been practicing optometry at the same office for just over 3 years. I have seen many of the same patients over and over, and have formed relationships with many of them. When I return from maternity leave I am going to switch offices (within the same practice) and work part time. I am so grateful that I am able to be at home with my little man 4 days a week, but part of me can’t believe I am leaving behind the office that I helped grow for 3 years. It may sound stupid to some of you, but I hope I am making the right decision. Has anyone left a job and wondered if you made the right decision? I am sure once little Kevin is here I’ll be happy with my decision to not return full time.
One great thing that has happened since I stopped working is I actually have energy and time to do things! Check out how many things I was able to cross off my nursery to-do list:
1. sand and paint filled nail holes in molding.
2. build, paint and install radiator covers.
3. paint lower portion of the room (white) and woodwork
4. change light fixture
5. touch up ceiling around fixture
6. build, paint and install book ledges I can’t wait to add all of baby’s books! This was pretty easy to do, but it felt good to finish it!
7. purchase and hang window shades. These should arrive any day now!
8. dust and clean floors and closet. Technically the floors were cleaned once, but they need to be cleaned again.
9. assemble crib.
Kevin and his little helper were hard at work!
10. order fabric for window treatments and crib skirt. I decided to go with something slightly different than I originally planned….stay tuned to see what I switched up!
11. make curtains.
12. clean dresser and add contact paper or other/decorative paper to drawers. I decided to just go with contact paper…and I already bought it.
13. carry 9,000 lb wood dresser upstairs (that is gonna be tough).
13. make and hang crib mobile. I bought everything I need to make it…so that’s a start!
14. wash baby clothes and bedding And I only ruined one receiving blanket 
Which I am actually kind of mad at myself about
15. figure out how to organize closet and purchase shelving units or hanging shelves
16. fill dresser and closet
17. finish and hang nursery art and vintage map
18. get antique rocker from Kevin’s parents
19. sew pillow for rocker
20. get some sort of end table for next to rocker
21. declutter and clean the rest of the house!
Slowly but surely, it’s coming along.
Sorry for boring everyone with all the baby details…but it really is consuming all my time these days. Hopefully once the nursery is done Kevin and I can work on some other major things on the house…a new sewage pipe in the basement (exciting!) and a new roof are top on that list! For the time being I am going to try to write 2 x a week, but we’ll see how that goes the closer I get to having the baby. If you haven’t already, follow me via email or like me on facebook!
I left work due to similar issues you had. I missed work terribly. I love being in the thick of things! But I loved being home with my bub more. Years later I never went back to work and now work from home. My kids are all adult and we still talk about how great it was that I was home when they were little and how much fun we had after school pick up at friend’s places. You can’t ever replace those memories.Those women who do work and have families, I take my hat off to you, it’s sheer hard work, and I know lots have a touch of guilt. Enjoy the excitement of the nursery, and get lots of rest! You are going to need it! LOL!
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Wow you’ve made a lot of progress! The nursery looks great so far. And yes, I quit my job and wondered if I had made the right decision, but almost 9 months later I’m sure that I did. I’m sure that once baby arrives, you will know that you did too. If not, at least you still have a foot in the door. That’s more than I can say for myself!
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I’m really a big fan of not working.
But I try really hard to remind myself to be grateful for my great job/career. Medicine is hard and stressful. Enjoy your quiet time. The eyeballs will be waiting for you when you’re ready!!
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I’m not leaving work, but today is my last day down here at the waste water plant. Even though I know I’m making the right decision for my family, it is still incredibly hard when I loved this job so much. So our situation is different but I understand how you feel! I wish that I could stay home so much with R, but it is just not in the cards for us. I keep holding out that Forrest will strike it rich and I can just go back part time
. And you are making great progress on your nursery!!!
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You will love the extra time with your baby. I just know it.
And are you going to carry that dresser all by yourself, or will you let a few thousand men help you? 
Enjoy your time off and away!!
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I am an accountant, and like you, had a long commute at one time. I was travelling an hour each way AND working long hours too, so that didn’t help matters any. Most of the time I would not get home from work until 8pm and sometimes I would work until 9pm. We don’t have any children so I can’t imagine what that would be like trying to raise a family when you’re not getting home until its time for the child to go to bed! Not a good situation! …..but I do have a family and a life to live and truste me it took a tole on us but I did that for almost four years and then tragedy struck when I was laid off/downsized a few months ago. I had dodged many of these bullets before in corporate America and it finally got me; I was devastated. I was a manager and was sad to leave my team and was afraid of what it would do to my career. I luckily was able to bounce back and find a job in 6 weeks that was SO MUCH CLOSER to home! Now my commute is only 30 minutes and a third of the distance AND with minimal overtime….so consequently I am home now by 5:30 and LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Now, given all of this, I know our stories differ a little considering I don’t have kids and you’re about to have one, but I know by experience that you will FEEL SO MUCH BETTER physically, emotionally, and mentally not have to deal with the stress of the long commute! Maybe after the baby comes and you get in a routine and get settled you may be abole to find an office closer to home that you love just as much or maybe even MORE! You just never know! God works in mysterious ways but he’s always watching over you!!! Everything happens for a reason!
Jennifer
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Kelly, I don’t think you’ll regret it at all! You will have the best of both worlds, working only part time!! I only hope I’m able to do that after we get pregnant.
The nursery is coming right along; it looks great!!
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Nursery is looking great! You are so lucky to have the option of staying home, even part-time. You won’t regret it!
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I don’t think you will regret your decision at all. Once Kevin arrives- he will be the center of your world and you will want to spend as much time as possible with him. This way you still get that connection to the career that you love but you get to have that all important family time too!
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If it makes you feel any better you can think about how jealous I am that you have extra time to nest before baby comes! I wish I could nest…
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You aren’t boring any of us! This is exciting and happy stuff to hear about. I’m sorry you are having so many mixed emotions about leaving your job, but I’m sure you are making the right decision for yourself! When your little man arrives, it will all become clear for you!
PS-LOVEEE those book ledges!!!!
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It must be so nice to have the time now to get all those things crossed off your list. Enjoy your time off with the baby. The nursery is looking great so far, I can’t wait to see more!
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You have to think of it this way, when your children grow up, are you going to be glad you spent as much time as possible with them, or are you going to regret spending so much time at the office, rather than being around your children. I don’t think you’ll regret your decision at all. I’m glad my mom stayed home with us when I was growing up, rather than going from babysitter, to babysitter.
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I don’t think you made a mistake with going on maternity early or planning to work part-time when you get back. It’s great that you’re able to rest before the baby arrives and I think that once he’s here, you’ll be happy to have so much time with him
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You made the right decision
I have been a stay at home for 13 years with part time jobs here and there. And I have never regretted being home and caring for my kids 
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