At least, I don't think they do. Like they don't write screenplays or novels or compose music or paint monumental works of art. Like that play about Wordsworth's sister being equally talented but then someone had to do the housework... It's not because they don't want to. Or can't. They just don't have the time.
Hence the reason for so many blank weeks in the history of this blog. It's been a true commitment to the cause of Technical Change that I've had a baby just to test the waters re work, technology and motherhood (at least, that's what I told the boss).
How could this sweet little thing make me ill?
Aah!
Having Lila has been quite an eye opener. Not just the motherhood bit, though that's full on enough, but the pregnancy, which I imagined was going to involve me wandering around Melanie Blatt-style, comfortable in combats, or attending industry soirees in designer pregancy gear, having 'just the one' glass of champagne, and never needing to think of topics of conversation, because there'd always be that big lump under everyone's nose.
No, none of that. I was either overcome with nausea or throwing up all day every day for the whole nine months. Which made me think about how difficult things would be if I had a job where I was on location, or where the shifts were 12 hours, or where I had to lug heavy equipment about.
So, damn well done to all those women who do it. The thing is, they shouldn't be questioned or accused, they should be treated sympathetically, not patronised. Most of all, they should be allowed to get on with the job. How many men out there have gone to work with the hangover from hell? Being pregnant's not much different.
