Having an infant is difficult. It's a lot of work, and I didn't hire any help because I overestimated my own abilities.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Having a baby is a disaster for your career. I don't think there's any sympathy.
Having a baby is one of the most wonderful things in your life, as well as the hardest thing in your life.
As a mom I know that raising children is the hardest job there is.
When the babies were very young, I found it difficult to write. I told myself each time that it would be different, I was used to it now, but with every child, for the first four months, I would accomplish nothing.
I quite liked having a baby - I think I won't put it more strongly than that. But I had no intention of allowing motherhood to disrupt my work as an archeologist.
I don't think that anyone can prepare for raising a child. I think it's one of those jobs that is far more overwhelming than you could ever expect and far more satisfying than you can ever expect.
When you have a new baby, you can get really overwhelmed, since it's such a huge responsibility. You're thrilled to be a mom, but your sleep schedule is so thrown off and it can be scary if you don't have a good support system.
When I had my first child, I started to try and make fresh food for him daily, and I became frustrated with the amount of work - and time - involved in making baby food at home.
It's a pretty brutal process, having a baby.
I'm one of the lucky few who never had to face the whole 'Oh, you've had a baby, and now work will have to suffer' bit. It just wasn't a big deal when I got married and had a baby.