Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday, d.a.r. asked what my teaching schedule would be like once Norah arrives, and this is a valid question: One that took me and my department chair weeks to decide upon. So, here's the answer:

In the fall, I am going to be teaching in a term we have that's called "session 4," which doesn't begin classes until October 20th. The classes in this term are only 7 weeks long, but meet twice a week for 3 hours a day. So, I'll be on maternity leave from the start of the term (Aug 20th) until October 20th; then, I'm going to teach two of those session 4 classes (which equals 12 credit hours) + I will be spending a few additional hours a week in the college's writing lab in order to fulfill my full time status, which requires 15 credit hours of "in class" time a term.

Thankfully, these classes, as well as my planned hours in the lab, are in the late afternoon/early evening, so our plan for the fall, once I resume work, is as follows: I will be at home with Norah in the morning, then I will take her to daycare at 12:30 pm and go to work. Jerry will then pick her up from daycare when he's done with work in the evening and be at home with her in the evening. This way, we only have to have her in part-time daycare, which is advantageous in many ways.

Hopefully, this is a schedule that works well because in the spring term, I plan on selecting classes that meet on a similar schedule (late afternoons and evenings) so that we can continue the same routine. And that's really one of the best parts about teaching in higher ed: flexibility of scheduling. I don't have to work Mon-Fri from 9-5; I can schedule my classes in the mornings only, in the afternoons only, no class on Friday, I can even pile all my classes on to two or three days a week if I want, so this makes working around the schedule of children a little easier (in theory -- I haven't yet put it into practice).

So, there ya go: That's the plan for now.

As for today, it's Cinco de Mayo, bitches! So Jerry and I are having a Taco Tuesday happy hour at our place this evening. Too bad I can't enjoy any refreshing cervesas, but...I can eat my fill of tacos, as well as plentiful quantities of chips and salsa! Ole!