I have decided to take a year off from teaching to be a stay home mommy. Why you ask?
1. I want to take time to be Emma's FIRST teacher. She's two now and learning so much so fast. I want to be there to make sure that she is getting the best lessons and homecooked warm meals. I have many lesson plan already stirring in my mind. The first ones are starting in a couple weeks here when we start planting our raspberry plants and green beans! We're also going to focus on learning our ABCs, colors and numbers!
"In spite of the great number of neurons present at birth, brain size itself increases more gradually: a newborn's brain is only about one-quarter the size of an adult's. It grows to about 80 percent of adult size by three years of age and 90 percent by age five. This growth is largely due to changes in individual neurons, which are structured much like trees." -www.zerotothree.org
2. I want to see and be there for all of baby boy's milestones. I didn't get to be there for all of Emma's and that's always made me sad. :( I remember coming home to my husband's stories of what Emma did that day. Sigh! I was quite jealous, but mostly disappointed that I missed it. I am surrounded by students whom I give 110% to everyday and spend countless hours of lesson planning and making "things" that I miss out on my own child.... Life of a teacher, eh!
3. I want to breastfeed my baby boy without the craziness of pumping at work and the worries of not-enough milk. I was successful with Emma and I NEED to be with Julian too. It's only fair that I give them both the best and give it my all. This is something that is very important to me and my child too.
"At 6 months, only 36 percent were still nursing. At 12 months, the number dips to 17 percent - fewer than one in five mothers. While moms know that breastfeeding gives babies the best start in life, legions of them find it difficult - if not downright impossible - to nurse longer than six months, let alone up to the one-year milestone." -www.parenting.com
4. Now is the perfect time before we are tied to a mortgage.
5. I have always wanted to have this experience! When I had Emma, I knew it was my calling. I love being a mommy! I am a greater teacher to many; but my most important students are my kids. I want to be THEIR GREAT TEACHER more than anything!
6. Work will always be there, but the time I could have with my babies will not. The thought of them not reaching their highest/growth potential would have me feeling guilty forever. It's only a year... but it's a very important year for both kids! I personally feel it's vitial for their sibling relationship too that I am here to help them bond and be with each other.
7. There are several other good reasons why I am making this move... But I couldn't have made this decision without the love and support from my dear husband. Thank you for valuing me and how important this means to me and our kids. XoXo.
