The Dirty Picture

Its 2 and a half months (almost) since I had baby Zo. And I stopped going to work a month and half before that. So technically, I haven’t been working for a whole four months. And this probably is the longest time off I’ve had since, well, forever considering none of my school/college vacations were for more than 2 months.

So the thing is, I had been looking forward to my maternity leave since I got married. No, wait, even before that, when I saw the maternity leave option in the Leave Management System at work. I was all like, whoa, that should be fun! So much time off! So much time to myself! It’s a huge vacation!

And vacation it is. Agreed, babies aren’t easy, and even if you have help from family, you’re always alert and ready, because the baby might need you anytime. But still, you’ve no where to go, no deadlines, no bosses, no meetings. Like I said, vacation. And I always thought that towards the end of the vacation, I would feel really depressed, like always.

But turns out, not really. I am actually looking forward to get back to my 9 to 5 routine. Ok, here I am calling out for some really judgmental comments. I know, I have already heard them. As in, people saying ‘ Are you sure you want to go to work?’, ‘How can you feel like working when you have such a small baby back home!’, ‘You’re a mom first, work can wait!’. But fact is, I need to work. I need to step out. I need my 9 to 5 routine.

And no one knows this better than Baby Zo herself. I mean, she is the one who spends most of her time with Mumma right? And I have no clue how. Thing is, I have really really, let go of myself. While I never was the chic kind, I was never totally gross either. I couldn’t be, I worked. So come what may, I had to have a bath each morning, wear clothes that made sense, control my hair, and head out each morning at a particular time.

Now that that’s not the case, I seem to have totally given up. I can’t believe I am putting this up here, but frankly, I stink. I know it. Horrible. Of milk and sweat and what not. And ofcourse it is gross. I have a bath when I have time, which I would like to believe is not as much, though frankly, it’s all about priorities. I can totally have a long bath and freshen up whenever Zo is asleep, since her Grandmom takes care of her, but I choose to surf, blog, or veg out in front of the TV, because I know she’ll be up in another hour. So I don’t. The last time I visited the parlor  was before Zo was born! So technically, I look like an ogre. And I tell myself that it’s ok, since I’m not going anywhere anyway.

Then there is my hair. I have mentioned how it is when not straightened, and since that couldn’t be done when I was pregnant, it is in the saddest state ever. Curly on top, straight at the ends. Seriously, it is not funny. It would take me a half hour to use the iron and put the hair in place, but apparently I choose not to. I comb it once a week , or it stays as a messy bun, and not sexy messy, sick messy. And the *beep* kilos I have retained from the pregnancy gain do not help matters at all!

If you think I can cut myself some slack, considering ‘it’s just been two months’ think again, it’s not that I do not step out. Hell, I’ve gone for two movies, and an awesome dinner already. So if I have time for all that, you’d think I would take some time to look better?

Apparently not. But I know what will cure that. Getting back to work, when frankly, more than The Dude and Zo will get to see me, and I doubt those people will be as understanding. So for now, I am enjoying the remaining month and a half of my unkempt state, and look forward to boring, bad work in February. For the sake of my own good health. And that of everyone around.

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