Hey Sar,

So this morning, in addition to the coos emanating from the crib in the corner of our bedroom, I awoke to the realization that one week from today I will be back at work. Maternity leave, its fleeting weeks of freedom, will be a thing of the past, and I’ll trade in my sneakers and yoga pants for high heels and black dress slacks (well, the one pair that fits, anyway).

Despite having my return to work marked on the calendar with a big red “X” for months in advance, now that I’m closing in on it, I feel like I’m cramming last-minute for a big test...