Today as my third graders loaded up their foam trays with chili, cheese quesadillas, chips, and corn, and headed back to our classroom for lunch before our early dismissal, one of my third graders asked me if I was excited to be leaving early. I responded, "Well no, I wanna be here at school, teaching you.. "Really?" he asked, "Wouldn't you rather be with Eden," or something along those lines.. It made me think.
Before I became a mom, I was a teacher. I have been known to say things along the lines of, "I could never be a stay at home mom. I love my job way too much." Then came Eden. Before I had Eden a normal day for me was arriving at school at 6am, teaching until 2:05, teaching after school until 4:30 and getting things ready for the next day until 5:00 or 5:30. I ate, slept, and breathed school, teaching, and my relationships with my kiddos, and I loved every minute of it.
When I was 24 weeks pregnant and my doctor advised me to stop teaching until after my little one arrived, due to high blood pressure and fear of preeclampsia, I was devastated, to say the least. I couldn't imagine spending weeks away from my students before my little girl arrived, and I had a hard time giving up control. It was a trying and stretching time for me and God taught me a lot about trusting him, being patience, and having peace in his presence.
After Eden arrived, I enjoyed every minute with her, and I treasured the days of being a stay at home mom. Maybe it was for me after all. . . . Thinking of going back to school and leaving Eden at daycare left a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. How could I be a teacher and be her mom. Would I ever stop thinking about my baby while I was at work? Would being a teacher be what it was before?
Today, the fact is, I am not just a teacher, and I am not just a mom, I am a teacher-mom. I feel that it is the profession that God has called me to. Sure, being a teacher is different than it used to be. Now, I drop Eden off at daycare to arrive to school as early as possible, so that I can leave as early as possible, while still being organized and prepared for the next day. I take a bag full of school work home, papers to grade while she naps, lessons to plan, printing to do. I am still a teacher. I still cherish the relationships with my class, love their excitement when I bring in donuts or make slime during fun friday. I still get excited when a child moves up a reading level or when a light bulb goes on in math. I love sharing my life with them, and I love how they beg me to share pictures and stories of Eden.
I love how my two important jobs have intertwined. I couldn't have known a year ago, how great, and how rewarding, being a teacher mom would be.
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