I returned to work, only part-time for the month of December, yesterday.
Everyone, and by everyone I mean everyone, including my dental hygienist, has asked "How are you?", "Are you ok?", "How are you handling it?". Imagine the accompanying head tilt and sympathetic expression.
I have not entered my child into a gulag. I have delivered her to a facility that is designed and dedicated to the care of children, with the backing of the state, county, city and the respected YMCA organization. It is regulated, licensed and inspected. There are FOUR ladies committed to her care in a lovely, toy and baby equipment-filled room with only a few other infants. They each have degrees in child development, training in infant CPR, certificates galore and ongoing education requirements.
I have a GED and a functioning uterus. I should have dropped the kid off weeks ago!