I thought I would be on maternity leave right now, but I did not realize the entire world would be on maternity leave with me, including my three-year-old daughter.

I admit I am still grieving my former life of freedom. If I were to say I wasn’t annoyed, or upset, I’d be lying. I’ve noticed one of my eyes has a small twitch in it from stress. A client told me she lost five pounds in the last month from stress. People are unnerved. My husband and I are adjusting to the new normal.

My three-year-old senses something is wrong. The “Mommy” and “Daddy” requests are all day every day. She’s understandably upset. She misses school and her friends. She cries frequently, even with the life we try and provide to her—which is pretty good.

(Forbes - Blake Morgan, Photo - Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM)