Semi-Retirement :)

These are my new breakfast buddies...

I am loving my part-time work status.  My principal refers to me as the semi-retired teacher (in good fun) and many people have commented on how much happier I appear. (Was I really that bad before?!)  It has been good for ALL of us.  Our mornings are so much less stressful...it was REALLY hard to get all FIVE of us out of the house dressed nicely, fed, packed, and ready for the day by 7:45 each morning.

Maya is loving it.  We play games every morning (our latest favorite is Sorry!) and just spend time together.  She loves that I'm able to take her to school and that I'm able to slow down and do things with her.  I still can't believe that she is going to go to Kindergarten next year.  This was really my last chance to have her with me at home.

Jacob loves it as well.  There's nothing better than extra snuggles from mommy and getting to sleep in a little longer in the morning.  An added bonus is that I only have to pump milk once a day now instead of three!  Score!

Gabi is even reaping some benefits.  I'm able to help out in her classroom and eat lunch with her every Friday now and the sight of her huge smile when I walk in the door makes it all worth it!

I'm also able to keep up with the house chores better.  I can do a load or two of laundry each day instead of doing what seemed like 200 loads each weekend.  I do a little cleaning each day instead of trying to clean the entire house each weekend.  We are able to enjoy our weekends more now instead of trying to play "catch up".

It is also helping with my guilt issues.  On one hand, I feel guilty when I am not with my kids.  On the other hand, I feel guilty when I am not working because I have SO MUCH time invested in my training to become a teacher and I really like my job. (Can you tell I'm Catholic?! Ha!)

So for now, Part-time Mommy/Part-time Teacher seems to be pretty good fit.