**Disclaimer** This post is not about foreign language teaching, but instead what I learned about teaching while being a new mom. If you do not wish to read about pumping, feel free to skip it.
Today my baby boy is one year old. On 1.14.14, my life changed forever when this wild, energetic, and happy little boy arrived. I had stressed for months prepping for his arrival, planning for maternity leave, but no one prepared me for the change to my life once I returned to school as a teaching (& pumping) mami. Here is my advice for returning to teaching as a new parent. (Update with #2 Let it go: Back to school on maternity leave)

TAKE AS LONG OF A BREAK AS YOU CAN
CALL IN REINFORCEMENTS
GET ORGANIZED & MAKE A SCHEDULE
- 5:00am – wake up, get ready, nurse & then pump before leaving for school
- 11:00am – pump during my prep (hands free & still working & planning)
- 2:30pm – pump after school
- 4:00pm – nurse once home
- 7:00pm – bedtime nurse
- 9:00pm – pump before bed
- 2:00am – middle of the night nurse
SIMPLIFY SCHOOL
- 1st Day After Winter Break for Spanish – if you are returning after Winter break, use these activities
- 10 Appropriate movies for Spanish class – it is more than OK to show a culture-rich film as a break!
- Name Game Speedball – if you need to learn names, grab the freebie below
For all of you teaching parents out there, I give you a huge round of applause because I now have a huge appreciation for the balancing act. Is there anything you would add?
Happy 1st Birthday Baby Boy!
Returning to Teaching after Maternity Leave was originally posted 1.14.15 by Allison Wienhold
Thank you so much for your beautiful blog!! You have posted so many wonderful resources, I have been feeling stuck in a rut (and I have a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old!) and your units and ideas feel so fresh, ¡MIL GRACIAS! Thank you so much for all that you've shared. All of your posts are so real and inspiring.
Thank you so much and I am glad I can help. I will be in your shoes soon when baby #2 comes in August. Teaching mamas need to stick together because it is HARD!