Motherhood means leaving the fast track, but that's OK

WELL, it's officially happened. I am now a domestic goddess.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. A couple of months ago, in the heat of August, nine months pregnant, I found myself wondering what giving birth would be like.

I asked the women around me about their experiences, and while they ranged from the ridiculously easy (just one push!) to the ghastly (48 hours!), I still wasn't sure what to expect.

When it finally happened — and it did end up on the ghastly side at 44 hours — I was completely dazed.

I was blessed with a healthy baby boy (Zachary James, 8 pounds 11 ounces) and all I could think was "Holy crap!"

It's funny — I spent so much time and energy thinking about the delivery, but I never once stopped to consider what life would be like once the baby arrived.

It was a complete whirlwind. All of a sudden I found myself at home with a wailing infant, laundry to do, a sink full of dishes and two hours of sleep a night.

While the first month was rough (looking back, it feels like one long day that would not end), I think I've found my stride.

In such a short period of time, my life has changed completely, but not in ways I thought it would. I thought I would simply be overwhelmed with a sense of love for my new baby and that would be it. While I love my son more than I can describe, I've begun to realize motherhood means more than just that.

Up until this point, I had spent the majority of my life in the academic realm.

After completing two degrees from the University of Manitoba, and currently a few courses away from completing an accounting designation, I was on the fast track to becoming an urban professional.

Now, with a three-month-old in tow and the plethora of paraphernalia I seem to carry with me everywhere, I seem to be stuck in the carpool lane, instead.

While I was elated to be a mother, with all the really amazing things motherhood entails, a part of me wondered if I had made the right decision to start this family.

However, the more I think about it, the more I believe that there's nothing wrong with the carpool lane.

Will I still get to my destination? Absolutely! It may take a little longer, it might be a little messier and it will definitely be noisier, but I will arrive in the end.

In fact, I'm looking forward to the journey. When you're on the fast track, there's a possibility you'll miss all the really cool stops along the way.

So, back to my new title, domestic goddess.

The domestic part is obvious: A new baby, diapers, laundry — need I go on?

The goddess part might require a bit more explanation. While the average person might not think of a goddess as a woman with stretch marks, bags under her eyes and a briefcase in her hand, I do.

I think working mothers are fabulous creatures — they manage to balance all the elements in their lives with such flair and finesse that they're worthy of the title.

I admit I'm a rookie to this motherhood thing, but with my new title and a new outlook, life is good.

Jodi Hargreaves is a new domestic goddess, living in Winnipeg.