July 1, 2016

Dear Baby,

It’s a celebration of our great country and we plan to spend the weekend being pretty celebratory. We will be seeing family and friends and heading up to the cottage to enjoy Canada’s finest views by the lake.

I have been thinking how very fortunate we are to live in a country where we have so much privilege. Health care and social services only just begin the list of luxuries we are afforded just for having been born in the true north strong and free.

One thing that has been on my mind a lot lately is mat leave. As a self employed mama, I don’t have the looming (or relieving) back-to-work date that many of my fellow moms do. I am not furiously arranging your schedule and day care arrangements and I am not stressing over leaving you coming off a year long adventure together. My plans (which are a whole other story to tell) include working and being with you so while I have to work out that balance, I don’t have to work out anything else.

And the truth is that while I can understand how a lot of working moms either want or have to go back to work for a variety of reasons, I cannot imagine parting ways with you in just a few months. I would be sick.

And that is considering that here in our great country we get the opportunity for a full year of paid maternity leave. That is about 9 months more than most people in our neighbouring country.

Coming on to 10 months of this first year together I can safely say that I don’t judge or think badly of anyone who doesn’t or can’t take it but it is the most invaluable experience that I have ever had and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it for anything.

So in recognition of the amazing services that our country affords us- I leave you with this: be grateful and thankful that you were born here in this great place where you will have great things just because you live here. This is never something to forget or take for granted.

Plus, as you will see this weekend, Summers here are the best things ever. Lake living is the shit!

xo

Mom