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Tuesday, May 05, 2009

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!

19 comments:

d.a.r. said...

Ah thanks for answering :) Sorry if I was a bit intrusive . That seriously sounds like the perfect schedule!

RunningLaur said...

This SO makes me want to be a professor.
Enjoy the summer off!

Marlene said...

Your Cinco de Mayo festivities sound fun - have a taco for me!

Run Sarah said...

Cinco De Mayo sounds fun - have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Got no invite to Taco Tuesday, which means I'll just ahve to ahve a Taco Tuesday Power Hour on my own!

Marcy said...

Sounds like a most excellent plan to me :-) Happy Cinco, baby!

P.O.M. said...

That sounds like a great plan. So many of my friends and family kept putting off the planning until the last minute - then it's like CRAP, we need a nanny pronto.

I heart tacos.

Unknown said...

You make that job sound gooooooood!

Heather said...

Your post-baby schedule sounds perfect! I worked at home 1/2 days on Mondays and all day Fridays for the first 9 months back to work, and it was really good to be home with the baby when she was still so little.

Have a happy Taco Tuesday!

Wes said...

good chips and salsa will cover for the beer, for a while ;-)

MN Mom said...

Hope you are having fun!

Kevin said...

Sounds like great scheduling flexibility. Enjoy your Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

MCM Mama said...

Sounds like a good schedule.

Happy Cinco de May!

Marci said...

I had a Corona to honour the occasion!

SavvyFitChica said...

Very cool idea! I never realized that your schedule could be that flexible and it's awesome that your boss worked with you. I'm jealous. =)

Enjoy your taco dinner.

MNFirefly said...

You have it all made and within a balance. I hope you find some time to continue running too and work it into your life.

Aka Alice said...

I think you've got a great schedule for when Norah arrives! You're right, it is the advantage of working in higher ed.

I taught part time (high school) when my kids were born...for lots of the same reasons (having kids in day care only part time)...I was lucky that at that point I had a principal who was completely supportive!

Hope you enjoyed those tacos!

Anonymous said...

Hoep you enjoyed your tacos!! You are very lucky to have a job with flexibility.

sRod said...

Way to make higher ed sound like the best job ever.