Getting Back Into the Routine
Being a substitute teacher is both a good and a bad thing. Obviously it’s obnoxious that I went to school for six years and this is the best job that I can get for my teaching degree, but there are a lot of perks to it too. One of them is that I get to spend the breaks being home with Nick (although sadly unpaid). Due to the way everything fell this year, and the fact that the last week of school before break I had to take time off because of the stomach flu, I ended with a good three weeks off. I had only been able to take four-and-a-half weeks off for maternity leave, so it was wonderful to get so much time off to spend with Nick.
The first half of break was rough since Nick was so sick with his sinus infection (and let’s not forget the craziness of Christmas in there too), but eventually we settled into a wonderful routine. I would get up at 7 to exercise and get Nick’s breakfast ready. He’d wake up around 8 and our day would begin. We’d play with his toys and read books. Of course he had to disrupt our wonderful routine by changing his nap schedule, but we dealt with it. The days were long stretches of togetherness. I loved being able to be with Nick all day. I was finally able to get stuff done again (even if it was only putting the Christmas stuff away), and I was getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night. I felt fantastic!
Sadly all good things must come to an end, and now we’re working on returning to reality and our regular routine. Last week I worked the last 3 days of the work week, but due to Martin Luther King Day I was lucky enough to get another long weekend before things fully returned to normal. Going back was really hard, but once I did I was fine. I really wish I could stay home with him every day though. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom, but financially that has never been an option for us.
I do have a hope that soon I will be able to stay home with Nick though. I have applied for a job as a tutor at Tutor.com. I have already passed some of the tests and now I’m just waiting for an opening. The days wouldn’t be quite the same as they were over break since I would have to work, but I would be able to work from home which would allow me to spend more time with Nick (and no time driving!). My fingers are crossed that they have an opening sooner rather than later.
Until then life returns to normal on Tuesday. I work five days a week, and Nick goes to daycare a few days and stays home with Daddy for the rest. Most of all I live for the two days a week that I get to completely spend with my little monkey. It really shouldn’t be so bad. In only a few months spring will return and the golf course will open up and I’ll be working part-time again.
