Countdown

I've never been much of a countdown person. I didn't have one while I was engaged. I didn't have one when I was pregnant with Avery, and I don't have one now that I've made the decision to not return to work next year. A part of me gets excited when I hear how many days left til something, and then another part of me gets anxious, and stressed!

There are 7 more weeks til the end of the school year, and I'm pretty stoked about it! I cannot wait to be home with Avery, be productive in my home, go to the gym in the morning rather than after a long day at work, and there's a laundry list of other reasons.

However, I am not going to work the next 7 weeks with all of that on my mind. Rather, I am going to work with excitement, effort, and with a good work effort. I refuse to 'check out to lunch', just because I know I won't be returning next year. At times it will be hard, but my Dutrow staff has been amazing this year- and I need to return the favor...especially these last 7 weeks.

Decision

I am so excited that John and I made the decision for me to be a stay at home mom again next year!! It's a decision that we've been talking a lot about, and praying about for months now and both feel it's the right decision for us, and Avery. People have very different opinions and thoughts about working moms, and stay at home moms. Sometimes people think they are helping by throwing their opinions and thoughts at me about my decision. You're not making things easier, or enlightening me. Some people think I'll get bored staying at home, some people have said I will regret this decision, some people think I'll get sick of Avery...

I have really appreciated those who have offered to pray for me while making my decision, and those who have said they would support me either way.

Our childcare situation this year has been a roller coaster and it’s not looking much better for next year. We've been juggling numerous sitters this year, and it has been a very overwhelming stressful issue. I have absolutely LOVED being an Interventionist, and Dutrow has been an awesome school to work at- but without having family in the area to fall back on, working full-time just won’t work for now. I am going to explore maybe working part-time like I did last Spring (I worked about 12 hrs a week for a few months), but definitely nothing full-time.

I feel so grateful for the opportunity to try a new job, and work at a new school. I can honestly say it has been the best year of teaching I've had over the last 7 years, but I have really missed being home with Avery, and feel strongly it's where I need to be.

So bring on lots of diaper changes, potty training, a messy kitchen, trips to the park, doctor visits, and playdates!! A new chapter begins...