@noahmetoyer Thanks for this. I honestly cannot picture life in 5+ years because all I can see is me being sick with daycare germs, my baby being sick with the same germs and waking up in the night, and me trying to do my demanding job (fortunately, I WFH) sleep deprived and sick as a dog for the foreseeable future as my fitness deteriorates and I’m never able to pin on a bib number ever again.
I cannot envision a reality where my son can walk and talk and sleep thru the night and feed himself. I’m just not there yet. I also cannot envision a reality where I’m
not sick, although I’ve only bee technically sick for a week.
But…assuming IF I recover from my super-flu AND my son eventually is able to sleep thru the night…and eventually grows up…my ideal life in 5-10 years is one where I’m able to balance parenthood, career / entrepreneurship (I own my own business), running / racing and continuing to hit the age group podium, some other creative pursuits, and travel (which is also a major passion of mine).
I don’t see my mental health making a full recovery if I have to give all of that up. I love being a parent but I need - for mental health’s sake - to also be a runner, a traveler, writer, a successful entrepreneur… and also a present wife, friend, etc.
If I can do that with two kids I’d be over the moon because I never saw myself as one and done. Every parenthood fantasy I have involves two or more kids.