o.k.

These are uncertain times. By that I mean: having a baby makes life highly unpredictable. As soon as you've adjusted to a new routine and figured out the latest stage of development, it changes. Completely.

So, I'm discovering that parenting requires us to be flexible. In spite of ourselves. And it's only the beginning.

We've been in temporary upheaval over the past week. Lourdes, the lovely Lourdes, is taking another job. One with more hours and more pay. She has to put her daughter through college next year, and I understand. I can appreciate her situation.

Even though.

Even though, I am heartbroken to see her go. Even though, I was not expecting to scramble for child care three weeks back to work. Even though, it is completely overwhelming.

The system is fragile. The system of childcare and work schedules and new morning routines that entail making coffee-eating breakfast-walking the dog-getting dressed-feeding the baby-making it to work on time. The system is a finely tuned machine, and it's a precise combination. So, when one part of the system falls apart, well, it's very overwhelming.

But such is being a parent, I'm realizing. Such is life! And we are required to be that much more flexible.

The reminder is this: It will all work out in the end.

Sometimes Ben and I turn to each other and say: Just tell me everything's going to be ok. We've always done this. When the other one needs to hear it -- just hear the words -- we will say: Everything's going to be ok.

And it usually turns out that way.

In less than a week, we hired someone new -- a kind-hearted, energetic woman named Sandra. And I have a feeeling she'll be wonderful.

So, there you have it.

Lourdes needed a way to pay for her daughter's education. I needed someone to take care of Pen. Sandra desperately needed a job. It's all working out in the end.

Everything's going to be ok.