Comments on: This Week On The (Dr.) O’C: The “L” Word http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/ An American Expatriate - Stepping Up From Down Under Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:19:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Dr O'C http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4406 Dr O'C Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:35:16 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4406 That was pretty much how I felt. I think it is probably a lot more common than you realise, it is just that there is this expectation that you should be happy, lovey dovey and over the moon at your bundle of joy, when all you really want to do is check into a hotel room for a night to get 8 hours sleep straight. I have only been back at work a week and a half and it has been stressful because Zach has been sick the whole time but so far I love it. I really enjoy interacting with other people and learning new things. Yeah some of it is pretty stressful because I have embarked on something new and challenging, but it is still a pretty good feeling to know my brain still functions. You must email through some photos of Ray. I would love to see some. That was pretty much how I felt. I think it is probably a lot more common than you realise, it is just that there is this expectation that you should be happy, lovey dovey and over the moon at your bundle of joy, when all you really want to do is check into a hotel room for a night to get 8 hours sleep straight.

I have only been back at work a week and a half and it has been stressful because Zach has been sick the whole time but so far I love it. I really enjoy interacting with other people and learning new things. Yeah some of it is pretty stressful because I have embarked on something new and challenging, but it is still a pretty good feeling to know my brain still functions.

You must email through some photos of Ray. I would love to see some.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4389 Andrea Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:48:32 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4389 I found it incredibly hard to be overjoyed and all maternal when R was brand new. Although I love cuddling as a general rule, this drooling/eating/pooping slug was sucking up so much of my time, energy, sleep and life that it was hard to let that all go. But once he started developing a real personality, that all changed. I love the smiles, the laughs, the hugs and kisses (more acurately known as bites). Even the developing temper, stubborness and mischieviousness are really so loveable. I found that I became quite withdrawn when we got home. I went out religiously to the clinics and swim, dance and music classes. I interacted with the other moms. I laughed at their stories and exchanged advice. But I never felt like myself or like I was making real friends. Even family visits made me step back and out of the situation. I was just too overwelmed and the only way to deal was to withdraw into myself and let whatever was going on pass me by. I was able to leave R with my C at 10 months and I love, love, love being back at work. Thinking. Talking. Concentrating. Relating to people as myself rather than as someone's mom. It's great. We start daycare in Sept and I hope it continues to be just as great. I found it incredibly hard to be overjoyed and all maternal when R was brand new. Although I love cuddling as a general rule, this drooling/eating/pooping slug was sucking up so much of my time, energy, sleep and life that it was hard to let that all go. But once he started developing a real personality, that all changed. I love the smiles, the laughs, the hugs and kisses (more acurately known as bites). Even the developing temper, stubborness and mischieviousness are really so loveable.
I found that I became quite withdrawn when we got home. I went out religiously to the clinics and swim, dance and music classes. I interacted with the other moms. I laughed at their stories and exchanged advice. But I never felt like myself or like I was making real friends. Even family visits made me step back and out of the situation. I was just too overwelmed and the only way to deal was to withdraw into myself and let whatever was going on pass me by.
I was able to leave R with my C at 10 months and I love, love, love being back at work. Thinking. Talking. Concentrating. Relating to people as myself rather than as someone’s mom. It’s great. We start daycare in Sept and I hope it continues to be just as great.

]]> By: arizaphale http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4355 arizaphale Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:14:19 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4355 Good. So now I don't have to resort to the reverse psychology I had planned. (You know: don't bother writing anymore you suck bored bored bored....that kind of shit :-D) arizaphales last blog post..<a href="http://arizaphale.blogspot.com/2008/08/so-long-ipod.html" rel="nofollow">So Long Ipod</a> Good. So now I don’t have to resort to the reverse psychology I had planned. (You know: don’t bother writing anymore you suck bored bored bored….that kind of shit :-D)

arizaphales last blog post..So Long Ipod

]]> By: Angel http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4313 Angel Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:31:31 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4313 Late to the party as usual, but I wanted to add my hopes that once things settle down you're still able to do guess spots on AFM. You know, I think parenting would be so much easier if people would admit to times like these. Regardless of what people tell you, motherhood does NOT come naturally, and it's hard! I think that sometimes we're just so happy when things finally click that we choose to forget all those days we felt like a miniature alien was dropped into our lives. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Not only was the story great, but you told it wonderfully. I hope the job is working out for you! Late to the party as usual, but I wanted to add my hopes that once things settle down you’re still able to do guess spots on AFM.

You know, I think parenting would be so much easier if people would admit to times like these. Regardless of what people tell you, motherhood does NOT come naturally, and it’s hard!

I think that sometimes we’re just so happy when things finally click that we choose to forget all those days we felt like a miniature alien was dropped into our lives.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Not only was the story great, but you told it wonderfully.

I hope the job is working out for you!

]]> By: Dr O'C http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4312 Dr O'C Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:31:08 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4312 Thank you for all your kind comments. We will have to see how the job thing goes and whether or not that leaves any room for writing. It doesn't come as easy to me as AFM. If I have something to say, I will be sure to say it:) I have never been accused of being shy about these things. And AFM being so overworked will probably beg me to fill in the gaps in blogging every now and then. Thank you for all your kind comments. We will have to see how the job thing goes and whether or not that leaves any room for writing. It doesn’t come as easy to me as AFM.

If I have something to say, I will be sure to say it:) I have never been accused of being shy about these things.

And AFM being so overworked will probably beg me to fill in the gaps in blogging every now and then.

]]> By: headbang8 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4311 headbang8 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:01:18 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4311 "Aren’t ‘brainy’ and ‘estrogen’ kind of like oil and water?" Funny, women say the same thing about testosterone. They are wrong, of course. They would also say the same about "sensitive" and "testosterone". they are wrong about that, too. headbang8s last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DeutschlandberElvis/~3/360084593/haircut-unimportant.html" rel="nofollow">Haircut Unimportant.</a> “Aren’t ‘brainy’ and ‘estrogen’ kind of like oil and water?”

Funny, women say the same thing about testosterone. They are wrong, of course.

They would also say the same about “sensitive” and “testosterone”. they are wrong about that, too.

headbang8s last blog post..Haircut Unimportant.

]]> By: A Free Man http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4310 A Free Man Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:38:17 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4310 Aren't 'brainy' and 'estrogen' kind of like oil and water? Aren’t ‘brainy’ and ‘estrogen’ kind of like oil and water?

]]> By: Chris http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4309 Chris Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:27:30 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4309 So here's the deal Dr.O.C., take as much time as you need to get settled into your new more hectic routine. Get past those few weeks we all go through at a new job when you're trying to show your employers they made the right decision but you don't have a sense of exactly what to do yet. Do some weekend cooking(do you cook?) and freezing so you have some easy meals on nights neither of you can get dinner together. On the days you miss Z, remind yourself it's quality not quantity. Use some of your new income stream to do something nice for yourself. When you've gotten past all of that, come back and tell us about it. You can't give us a taste and take it away, that's just mean and you're not mean are you? I'm not sure I can go through a whole season of football posts without a little brainy estrogen thrown in. Don't make us beg, that's just unsightly. Chriss last blog post..<a href="http://formerlyfun.blogspot.com/2008/08/5-great-words-to-describe-my-mood-now.html" rel="nofollow">5 Great Words To Describe My Mood & Now I'm Going To Use Them In a Sentence</a> So here’s the deal Dr.O.C., take as much time as you need to get settled into your new more hectic routine. Get past those few weeks we all go through at a new job when you’re trying to show your employers they made the right decision but you don’t have a sense of exactly what to do yet. Do some weekend cooking(do you cook?) and freezing so you have some easy meals on nights neither of you can get dinner together. On the days you miss Z, remind yourself it’s quality not quantity. Use some of your new income stream to do something nice for yourself. When you’ve gotten past all of that, come back and tell us about it. You can’t give us a taste and take it away, that’s just mean and you’re not mean are you? I’m not sure I can go through a whole season of football posts without a little brainy estrogen thrown in. Don’t make us beg, that’s just unsightly.

Chriss last blog post..5 Great Words To Describe My Mood & Now I’m Going To Use Them In a Sentence

]]> By: Vera http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4308 Vera Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:20:39 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4308 From someone who had a baby far away from any relatives, I think you've done well to go to Australia. My daughter blooms every time she visits grandparents or when we have guests (our daily life is pathetically low on social contacts at the moment). And I have a hunch a whole lot of other things are a whole lot better in Australia than in the England. E.g., our high temp yesterday was 15 deg C/59 deg F with loads of rain. And I thought the weather didn't matter... you can't take the kid out in wind and rain. (Well, I am not English, I can't.) From someone who had a baby far away from any relatives, I think you’ve done well to go to Australia. My daughter blooms every time she visits grandparents or when we have guests (our daily life is pathetically low on social contacts at the moment). And I have a hunch a whole lot of other things are a whole lot better in Australia than in the England. E.g., our high temp yesterday was 15 deg C/59 deg F with loads of rain. And I thought the weather didn’t matter… you can’t take the kid out in wind and rain. (Well, I am not English, I can’t.)

]]> By: holly* http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4307 holly* Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:05:28 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/08/13/this-week-on-the-dr-oc-the-l-word/#comment-4307 im with everyone else. i've really enjoyed reading your experience (i happen to think you write very well) and would love to hear about your take on things in your household and/or about your work. i also seem to get the feeling that your husband there really enjoys sharing this with you, which is awesome! but there is no reason to make a set in stone commitment. once a week? once a month? once a decade? no matter how often, its nice to let your words out sometimes. erm. mr. aFreeMan, that octopus salad is really yummy. they also have one with artichokes and carrots and little squid and yummies! the one with the olives is so pretty though. love that purple... what is in the one in hawaii? something traditional? (i was thinking of making something myself and i'm looking for ideas) the one time i made it to maiu i gorged on grilled mahi mahi, coconut poi pudding, mai tais, and budwiser... i would love to go again with the more accepting pallet i have now. im with everyone else. i’ve really enjoyed reading your experience (i happen to think you write very well) and would love to hear about your take on things in your household and/or about your work. i also seem to get the feeling that your husband there really enjoys sharing this with you, which is awesome! but there is no reason to make a set in stone commitment. once a week? once a month? once a decade? no matter how often, its nice to let your words out sometimes.

erm. mr. aFreeMan, that octopus salad is really yummy. they also have one with artichokes and carrots and little squid and yummies! the one with the olives is so pretty though. love that purple… what is in the one in hawaii? something traditional? (i was thinking of making something myself and i’m looking for ideas) the one time i made it to maiu i gorged on grilled mahi mahi, coconut poi pudding, mai tais, and budwiser… i would love to go again with the more accepting pallet i have now.

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