It’s time to re-prioritize as I await my daughter’s arrival

The final countdown to our daughter’s arrival has started, with less than two months until my due date.

I have the baby countdown app going on my smartphone and each passing week feels like a surprising milestone as my third trimester starts ticking down to Ciera’s arrival.

But, with all the excitement comes the fear. My biggest fear is going to be balancing my work life and giving my daughter the time and love she needs and deserves. I’m 29-years-old and up until I met Logan, having children was never on my radar. I’ve always been a working woman, a woman driven by my desire to succeed and surpass expectations.

I started my first job at 17, working fast food. Dedicating my time to perfecting what I was doing -- even if that meant running a cash register -- became my primary focus. At age 18 I was on my own, and work was the one thing I could always count on. I struggled between paychecks and ultimately found myself working anywhere from one to three jobs at a time, all while pursuing my college degree.

I would get off work in the early morning hours, then power nap before heading off to class or my other job.

I missed out on social time because working is what I had to do to survive, but that was OK with me. Working is what I was always good at.

Then, what I considered to be despite the odds due to sleepless nights and long hours, I obtained my journalism degree. I continued the trend of multiple jobs even after I found my dream job working for my hometown paper. Again, working is what I was good at. I like to think I always excelled, even when my life outside work felt like an endless stream of disappointment.

Then, I met Logan and realized there was more to life than work. I could have a social life and still be successful. Then, again, despite the odds, I fell in love and my view of the world changed dramatically. But, I still dedicated a lot of my time to my push to be successful and exceed expectations, and this time I had my own personal cheerleader -- minus the stereotypical pom poms and pigtails, of course.

My current position is a demanding one, which leaves me latched to my phone all hours of the day and night because you never know when news could break or my staff should need me. I worked incredibly hard to be taken seriously enough to be considered the lead person in our newsroom as a young woman.

Now, all of that is about to change. I’m no longer just a woman dedicated to my work. I’ll be a wife and mother. Logan and I planned for a family, knowing early on we couldn’t wait to see our intense love for each other blossom into an even more incredible love for a child who is a piece of both of us.

This love for a child is going to change my view of the world yet again, especially my first love -- working.

I love my career and plan to work until I cannot any longer, but now is the time to re-prioritize.

I’m so excited for the arrival of our sweet Ciera Dawn and how expanding my horizons will help me continue to better myself and my family.

To parents who work demanding jobs (which is pretty much all of them): I’d love to hear your input on how you balance your work and home life.

Sabrina is the editor of the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached at sabrinagcdw@gmail.com.