maternity leave Archives - Our Bill Pickle

On losing (and finding) your way: my 2021 reflection

December 24, 2021

My 2021 reflection. This is what I got up to in 2021 and what I have planned for 2022.

I’ve been struggling with how to go about writing this 2021 reflection for weeks.

Taking time to reflect as the year draws to a close has been a regular practice for me for…well, years. I find the practice therapeutic.

Writing things down helps me process my experiences. It helps me make sense of things I go through.

It helps me move forward.

It’s not surprising that this 2021 reflection didn’t come easy. Because for all the good that came out of 2021 — and there was a lot of good — there have also been challenges that required significant processing.

So, after several weeks of writing and rewriting, here’s my attempt at doing some of that work (and a preview of what’s ahead).

My six most surprising maternity leave expenses

November 11, 2021

Even though I knew maternity leave would be hard on our budget, that has not stopped me from being surprised by some of the maternity leave expenses we incurred.

I knew maternity leave would be hard on our budget, but that has not stopped me from being surprised by some of the maternity leave expenses we incurred.

Almost eight months in, I’m relieved things have started to slow down in terms of our spending and hopeful it will remain that way.

But those first few months?

Yikes, my dudes.

In keeping with my philosophy of keeping it real in this space, here’s a look at some of the expenses that surprised me during my maternity leave so far.

Baby must-haves: 0-6 months

October 14, 2021

When it comes to baby gear, everyone has different opinions about what's essential. These are my 12 baby must-haves.

It’s been more than six months since my husband and I brought our child home, so it seems like as good a time as any to put together my first baby must-haves list.

In preparing to welcome our first child, I spent a lot of time talking to friends and checking out lists online to determine what we would need for those early days of parenting.

It did not take long to realize when it comes to baby gear, everyone has opinions about what’s essential and what’s not.

And that now includes yours truly.

This list includes 12* items I found most useful for baby during the first six months — and a shorter list of things that have helped me adjust to life as a mom.

*Note: one of the items on this list was recently recalled. I’ve removed the purchase link and I’m including a link to the recall notice. I left it on the list because it was useful for us at the time but I would not necessarily recommend purchasing it in light of the recall.

Note: this post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you. I only share links for products I use and love. Thank you for your support.

Maternity leave in Canada: 6 tips to help you prepare

September 30, 2021

Planning to take maternity leave in Canada? Here are six simple steps you can take to prepare your finances.

Before getting pregnant, I knew very little about maternity leave in Canada.

I knew I would be eligible and that I would receive less money…and that was about it.

Of course, my lack of knowledge about the ins and outs of maternity leave in Canada makes sense. Before having a baby, I didn’t have a reason to have experience with the program.

That changed as soon as I found out we were expecting. Understanding how having a baby would impact our finances was important to me from the start.

Today, I’m sharing a snapshot of what I learned, my experience with maternity and parental leave in Canada so far and a few tips based on my experience.