Being a full time teacher and a full time mommy is a little stressful. While at work, I have to focus on 36 little hands & feet, 2 team members, 2-4 supervisors, various substitutes who come in and out our door, IEP goals, lesson plans, news notes, NAEYC standards, positive behavior support strategies, professional development plans, teacher assistant observations and evaluations....etc, etc, etc. All of this responsibility coupled with the responsibility of ensuring I give myself enough time on my lunch break to pick my little guy up from the child care room (which is located in my building...I know....I am SO lucky!), take him to a private room in the back of our building to nurse him and pump the next bottle he'll receive in the afternoon. All of this responsibility can really wear a mommy down.
Some people have asked me "How long do you plan to nurse?" "Why don't you leave your baby in the child care room and just pump so you can be done faster?" "He takes bottles well for them in child care now, right? Why don't you leave him there for them to feed him?" "He certainly doesn't look like he misses a meal!" My answer is this: Because I want to. I want to be with my baby. I want to nurse him because I know that's the absolute best thing I can do for him. I want to be the one who feeds him. I pay to have him at work with me so I can see him! He doesn't miss a meal because I'm not a neglectful parent! (it isn't like I'm feeding him cheeseburgers! It's breast milk!!!) If I don't have time to catch up on the most recent happenings in a co-workers life during our lunch break because I have to nurse my baby boy, I am certainly not going to be upset about it.
I am a teacher and a mommy. My job is to educate children. My passion is to love my own.
6 comments:
Yay for starting a blog! Blogs are so much fun! :-)
And good for you, Natalie!! Being Max's mommy definitely comes first! :-) I'm so glad he can be there, and you can see him at lunch!
Becky (cousin) :-)
Amen, sista!!! It's obvious that you are a wonderful mother and you love your baby with all your heart. Sneak in as many of those moments as you can!!!
Jenny
Very cool! I look forward to following your blog. I'm a Teacher Mommy too...but not at the same stage. I'm really proud of you and how you're sticking to you feel is best for you and your family. You're a Super Teacher Mommy!!
One of the reasons I stayed at home Mason's first year was so I could be sure to nurse him. I love the fact that we had that time together and would not give it up for the world. Had I been able to teach and have him there I would have done that. Having him in the same building now is wonderful! But even sweeter is that you get to visit with Max and lunch, keep of the good work! I for one know that you are doing everything you can and let everyone else's negative thoughts roll off your back.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. As you all know, it is difficult to weed out the good advice from the negative as a first time mommy. I'm about to the point of just letting some advice go in one ear and out the other! :)
I am ever so proud of you Natalie! You are a wonderful Mommy and to prioritize your life the way you do will make Max a wonderful little boy! I'm so glad you think of the big things in life as well as the details...
it shows! Love you....
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