Sleep is just a breath away

Student A: So this is your first day back at the school?


Me: Yep, and so please, please. please be patient with me, guys. I may be a bit rusty. Do you all know what the word "rusty" means?


The class nods in agreement and smiles.


Student A: Teacher, you had a boy or  girl?


Me: (with a huge ass grin on my face) I had a boy.


A collective "awwwww....." is said in the room.


Student B: What is his name?


Me: (with a huge ass grin on my face) If I start talking about my baby, I am really afraid I won't stop and you guys will learn nothing for 2 weeks.


Student A: That's ok, Teacher.


Student B: Do you have a picture?


You don't have to ask me a second time as I furiously reach into my purse.


There was so not going to be a lesson happening today..............

Do not get me started talking about baby. I swear I don't want to be one of those crazed new moms who constantly berate the teachers' room with stories about how the sleepless wonder did the cutest thing (again) this week. Or that the sleepless wonder (almost) walked this week, or that he (almost) said "mama", or that he (almost) used a spoon. Yep, I need restraint. However, all gloves are off when a student asks. I mean, there is something culturally significant about learning how to raise a Canadian baby that I can teach to my international adult students (yes??). There is something important about talking about sleeping habits and the delights of a one year old (right??).
I detest getting up and showering right away, blow drying my hair, and trying to make it out the door on time. Admittedly, this past week has been pretty smooth and our morning routine with the three of us getting ready at the same time has been less painful than I thought. However, how long before the little butterfly of excitement wears off and the bitterness of working everyday sets in?  If I am being honest, I really liked being at work this week. I even liked the commute (horror!) as it gave me some time alone before having to face the workday. Dare I say I even enjoyed wearing something other than the same old skinny jeans everyday (or if I am being entirely truthful, that I enjoyed wearing something other than my pjs that I sometimes lounged around in all day)? Yep, I was a working gal again and let me tell ya, I sort of had a strut walking to work.

A coworker of mine told me I was going on a "baby vacay" before I left for my mat leave. I thought it was the funniest thing ever until another (already a parent) coworker quickly piped in and said that a year off with a new baby was nowhere near a vacay. At the time, I though he might be correct, but I have to say, walking with my strut this week, I felt renewed, refreshed, like I had been on vacay this whole time. Sure, there was  no beach and let's face it, the sleeping wonder has only been sleeping through the night for 4 months, but still, as grateful as I am for the time off with baby, I am almost equally as grateful for that separation from work. I feel reinvigorated in a way that can only come from being detached from the workplace for so long and I hadn't expected to feel that way at all. Perhaps we all need our own little baby vacay every 10 years or so, a sabbatical of sorts. Wouldn't the workplace be such a happier place? Or we could all have children of our own and then I wouldn't feel so bad scrolling through my phone with all the latest pics of my little one (almost) standing on his own. Awwww......isn't he just soooo cute???