Does happy mum REALLY equal happy baby?

[Smoke Jaguar]

no one likes hard work.

Ooooh, I'm ALWAYS up for a challenge Pushing comfort zones is what I'm comfortable with LOL! Then again, I'm usually a 'full tilt' or 'no tilt' kind of person, living my life passionately interested in what I'm doing, on some level, or out for the count.
My firefighting is very important to me. If it weren't, I'd have opted out when DS was little. This is the one area of conflict in my life, akin to Rory's one with work. I have been trying and trying and trying to make it work. I've been making compromises on it and my firefighting has suffered a LOT. And as I'm still passionate about its role in my life, I haven't given up on it yet. However, with the current and foreseeable male-interest-oriented nature of fire brigades, no-ones going to help me integrate firefighting into my mothering experience (yes, I do believe I could be better accomodated and supported, including by my partner who is also a volunteer), so whilst that's the case for now (don't worry, it's something I'm working on...I can chip away at the Old Guard slowly to make it easier for someone else to knock down the wall!), my boy is better off with my letting fire brigade take a back seat. I don't need anyone to tell me this and I don't think it would at all help if someone said "Go on, go on a Strike Team and take your pump with you - it will make you happy and HM=HB", because DS would be VERY upset with me being gone for 24 hours in hot weather when he wants some boob! Not compatible, I made my choice and whilst my hand is forced for now, the compromise is necessary to meet DS's needs. And that makes me happy and fulfilled in its own way.
ETA:

It confirms and validates your approach to parenthood in just the way you need.

No, not for parenting, for life in general I love this quote. It's my reality check. Everything passes, it gives me perspective when I think something is huger than it really is.