It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This by Lisa Wilkinson

Author:Lisa Wilkinson [Wilkinson, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2021-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The times, they, were a-changin

‘Becoming who we are is an ongoing process, and thank God! Because where’s the fun in waking up one day and deciding there’s nowhere left to go?’ – Michelle Obama

LOUIS MCCLOY FITZSIMONS was clearly in a big hurry. After the marathon that was Jake’s arrival, his little baby brother had decided he wanted to get this thing over with and do it on his big brother’s 2nd birthday, too.

I’d always heard that every pregnancy, every birth and every child is different. And yet, this pregnancy had once again been a nightmare of nausea. The birth, though, was different: natural, and over in less than an hour. This baby was definitely different, too. Where Jake had been a pretty good sleeper, Louis rarely slept for more than 45 minutes at a time.

It stretched me and my reserves of patience, as my new life at home as a full-time mum unfolded, surrounded by nappies, nipple pads, toys and Thomas the Tank Engine on repeat. It was an emotional roller-coaster, and there were days when, if I didn’t laugh, I cried. Yet, even on the tough days and during the exhausting nights, I was grateful for the two healthy babies we were lucky enough to have.

It did take some adjusting, though. And at least one colleague doubted the wisdom of my decision. Just before I’d left Cleo, I’d run into one of ACP’s high-profile editors in the lift who, on hearing that I was leaving, asked me if it was true that I was giving up such a prestigious job. When I confirmed it was, she was shocked.

‘So, you’re just going to leave? You don’t have anything else to do?’ she asked.

‘Nope, nothing,’ I happily replied. ‘I’ve worked hard for a long time. I’m looking forward to concentrating on being a mum for a while.’

She then leaned in and said something that would forever after stay with me.

‘But what about all the invitations and the glamorous first nights? All that stuff will dry up, you know. I mean, who will you be if you’re not the editor of Cleo anymore?’

I was, very happily, about to find out.

Pete was working flat out now with the paper, as well as writing his eighth book, doing a weekly TV show in New Zealand, and in demand as a guest speaker. I, meantime, wanted to pull back. I wanted to know who I was without that job title. I’d worked hard and saved hard for a long time. I’d given everything to my work, but I knew I would only ever get this one chance to have this precious time in my little babies’ lives. And I was taking it.

*

A call from Brian Walsh came out of the blue. I’d been mates with Brian since his old PR days at radio station 2SM in the early 80s, and then as the genius publicist behind the careers of Neighbours stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Now, he was heading up things at the newly opened Foxtel pay-TV service, and he was calling with an idea.

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