September is coming, and with it, my return to tutoring. I started getting calls in early August from last year's students who are looking to get into my schedule early this year. Many of them want double sessions, one for their regular math course and one for SAT tutoring. But all of them know that I've just had a baby (just? well, ok, maybe not just), and that I'll be working on a restricted schedule for now. So I've spent lots of time trying to figure out the best way to arrange things so that Maddie is never without me for too long and keep my students' busy schedules in mind as well.
I've managed to work it out so that I have one early session, around 4 o'clock, and one or two late sessions, around 7 o'clock. That way, I can be home for dinner hour and be able to feed Maddie if she needs it. But I've also been worried about what happens if she's napping when I get home and doesn't wake in time for a feeding before I leave again. So I've been stockpiling pumped milk in the freezer with the expectation that Miguel will be able to give her a bottle when she needs it. Of course, first we have to make sure she'll actually take a bottle.
With that in mind, I've been telling Miguel that we need to start practicing giving her a bottle in the evenings and we need to let him put her to bed a few nights so she gets used to him doing it. (In fact, now that I think of it, I might actually do a "test run" next week where I leave the house around the times I'm supposed to and return when I'm supposed to so Maddie can get into the swing...that way Miguel can call me if things aren't working and I can go home and help.) Anyhow, tonight we tried the bottle. I set Miguel up with a warmed bottle of milk and a hungry baby. Then Angie and I went for a walk. When we came back 15 minutes later, Miguel was on his way toward us with the baby. Apparently she'd been too hungry to try something new. So I sat and nursed her a bit. Then, I burped her and tried the bottle. Lo and behold, she took it and sucked down and ounce and a half without even blinking. It was as if she'd been drinking from a bottle her whole young life.
Well, wasn't I relieved. Now, I just need to get Miguel to her a bit sooner so she'll take the bottle without nursing first. And now that she knows what it's for, maybe she'll be more inclined to take it from him.
I don't feel so bad about going back to work now, and I know that as she gets older I can add more students into the schedule without making everyone crazy. I'm sure he'll be able to handle bedtime, too.
3 comments:
Paul and I always worked around each other's schedules, so the children did not have a choice. Sometimes, we mothers just have to let go a little. Daddy may not do things the way we do, but they do them just as well, if different.
Mandy and Andrew both are better for the involvement of Daddy in their young lives. He is another nurturing presence, though in a different way than I.
Lots of love and wishes in your "back to work" schedule!
I'm in perfect agreement with you, Jessie. When I went back to work and left Angie with Miguel I spent the first weeks (ok, months) asking for every detail of their time away from me. Now, I send them off (or myself off) on daylong trips (or work) without even questioning it. Ok, so I do ask about how she ate, since Miguel is more inclined than I to offer treats, but all in all, he's an extremely competent Dad and Angie is definitely the better for his loving involvement.
Ha! Don't tell Davey I said so, but he lets the whole crew run amok! Fortunately, the girls are older now and I can leave them to take care of things. A reminder list on the fridge is great and they happily check off things like "brush Rosie's teeth" and "read bedtime stories". :-)
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