What Difference A Few Short Years Make

Once upon a time I was a cool cucumber, hot, fit, popular. Once upon a time I was free, assertive. Once upon a time I had big dreams, going places. Once upon a time.

I'm a new mom again, number four this time. I can't work I don't have the time. I wait for my husband to drive up, come in the door. Unload on him, complaining. The dinner's not done, it's pizza again. The laundry needs folding. The kids need a bath, mommy needs attention. Forget about being the first woman manager, I'm the woman with four kids in preschool. Multitasking, napping between feedings, tv in the background.

Forget about sexism, forget about the patriarchy, forget about gender roles. Non of that matters. Please don't ask me for a decision, don't ask me what we are having for dinner. When Daddy comes home he'll decide, anything he can pick up is good enough for me.