Exciting News

Dress: Old Navy // Loafers: Coach (similar) // Hat: Forever 21 (similar) // Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote

On Athena: Sweater: Baby Gap // Tee: Target  //  Jeans: Old Navy // Shoes: Amazon

This outfit is symbolic of a time in my life that is circling back. This is the epitome of what I'd call a "teacher outfit" consisting of a conservative dress, comfy shoes and a huge durable bag for all the strange things that end up there after a day of teaching! This really has been my uniform for so many years and is what makes up the majority of my closet. We can't forget the pencil skirts either. I'm working hard to fit back into those!

For the last five months I've been enjoying the heck out of Athena, motherhood and this new life of ours in the mountains.

But, somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it had a bit of an expiration date. You see, teaching is in my blood and it has been stirring in my mind for a long time. I'm passionate about teaching and have loved every year, good and bad, of my 11 years of experience and am forever thankful for all that it has taught me. 

Last Spring, I was subbing but was also pregnant and very sick, so it was short-lived. However I loved the school I was subbing at. Very unlike my inner-city public school teaching on the south side of Chicago, I was substitute teaching at a small private school here in downtown Salt Lake that was introduced to us by a coworker at my husband's job. I instantly loved the intimate vibe and the culture of the school. 

Flash forward to Athena's baptism when she was three months old. We were at our church, and to our surprise, guess which choir we noticed making a special guest appearance at the mass, but that very same school! I hadn't seen the kids in almost a year but it was so special having some of my old students singing at her baptism. It was so sweet to be able to go over and say hi and introduce them to Athena.

This prompted me to get in contact with the principal and let her know how special the coincidence was. When I did, I was informed there were some job openings that sounded perfect for me! I wasn't expecting a teaching opportunity to appear so quickly after Athena's birth but it just felt right. Isn't is funny how things just fall into place sometimes?

So as of last Wednesday,  I officially signed a contract to go back to teaching next year!! I will be teaching 4th grade!  Really, nothing has ever fulfilled me professionally like teaching. I'm so happy that Athena will get to grow up seeing me do something that I love and helping families. It's really the way I've always imagined my children seeing me and the example I'd like to set. 

Why not stay home with Athena? As a teacher, I have always seen the importance of the socialization aspect of being around other kids. She will be going to daycare until she is old enough to come to school with me. Sure it will be hard for me to leave her but I know it's what is best for our family in the long run. 

So when do I start? August, which gives me about four more months with my girl. I'm really savoring each day as much as I can because I know, much like summer break, the days seems to fly by when there is a start date looming ahead of you.

I'm really excited to start planning lessons and set up a classroom again. I think both Andrew and I are happy to get 11 years worth of teaching boxes out of our storage room too. I'm happy all my books and resources will get to be used and enjoyed by kids again. It made me sad that they have just sat in a closet for over a year.

So now for the hard part, mamas, how did you cope with going back to work with a little one? Tell me your secrets that will make this transition easier on not just me, but Athena too.