The Stretch Mark Club

Chapter 5: A Mother's Job Is Never Done

Everything I do now shapes who she’ll be for the rest of her life. I can’t imagine a job more important than that.

Riley

8 Weeks Old…

I’m going to create a new triathlon for which I will be the reigning champion (or whatever the winner will be called).

Event 1: Sleep while nursing in contortionist positions.

Event 2: Clean every surface of a three-bedroom house while carrying a 20-pound baby.

Event 3: Apply makeup and coif the perfect hairstyle while relaying between the bathroom and the baby bouncer.

In the bag.

On Monday night, Everett volunteered to watch Zoe after work so I could visit Jasmine. I was excited--I’d only seen her a couple of times since we’d had our little time-suckers--but when I reached the door and heard her and Hector screaming at each other, I almost turned around and left. The worst part about it wasn’t that I stood there awkwardly for nearly ten minutes waiting for the right time to knock, it was realizing that Everett and I never argued like that...and wondering if something was wrong with us.

Finally, I did knock and Jasmine answered the door, flushed and out of breath.

“Hi,” I said coyly.

Jasmine smiled and in an instant, the tension was gone. That’s the great thing about Jasmine.

“Are things getting any better between you and Hector?” I asked after he left. I had Andrea in my arms and Jasmine held Xavier.

“What do you think? He just left for Pablo’s house for the third time this week.”

“What is going on with him?” I was astounded. I didn't know Hector very well, but every time I'd seen him in class, he had coddled Jasmine and her belly like the proudest of fathers.  And now...

Jasmine threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know. He won’t talk to me. He won’t help me. I’m about to call his mother.”

I laughed.

“What were you arguing about just now?” I asked her and shifted Andrea in my lap. Already she was a little spitfire, rearing and ready to take on the world. Xavier was more docile in Jasmine’s arms, happy to be snuggled.

“You heard that, did you?” Jasmine sighed. “My boss called today. He wants me back to work next week.”

“You’re kidding. I thought you had three months maternity leave.”

“I thought so too. But apparently, he changed his mind. He says if I don’t come in next week, he’ll fire me.”

“Isn’t that illegal?” I asked her.

“Yes, but tell him that. He’s a lawyer. He’ll find a legal way to get away with it. It pisses me off the way business looks down on parenting these days. I should have known he would do this. From the first time I told him I was pregnant, he stopped letting me help on major cases, sent me home early from work, and treated me like at any minute I might tear the office apart looking for ice cream and pickles.”

“I remember that. When I told my boss I was quitting to be a stay-at-home mom she looked at me like I’d sold my soul to the devil. Why is it everyone thinks women can’t be successful parents and have a successful career?”

“Can we?” she asked. “Really, Shea, because I’m starting to wonder. Today, for instance, I got four hours of sleep. Andrea slept in bed with me because she wouldn’t stay in her crib. I’ve nursed them both five times each, changed eleven dirty diapers, put Xavier down for three naps, two of them because Andrea woke him up. Andrea hasn’t gone down at all today because she absolutely refuses to. I haven’t gotten any laundry done, which is bad because Xavier can’t keep his mess in the diaper, and I’m almost out of outfits for him. Heaven forbid I put him in one of Andrea’s, because Hector would lose it if his boy even touched the color pink. Please tell me where in there I’d have time to type up a legal brief?”