One small problem with finding the kids on Facebook is that it is making me miss teaching even more. It’s been a constant ache since I left almost two years ago. I’m no longer dreaming about teaching several times a week. I think that might get even less frequent once the last of ‘my’ kids graduate at the end of this school year; we’ll see. So I have to remind myself why I am staying home.

I’m staying home because there is a lot of research showing that kids do better with a stay at home parent. Especially given how demanding teaching is of both my time and energy I don’t think I would be as good of a parent if I worked. I was drained every day after teaching. When I got home I was exhausted. I don’t think I would be able to be patient and play with her after work. I don’t think that I am a good enough person to pump for years and I think that breastmilk is a big enough deal that I want Shanna to have it for as long as she feels she needs it. I also think I would be just as crappy at working during the next pregnancy as I was during the last one.