BakersDozen Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 How long do you take off of school after having a baby? I've never taken any time off, usually we're back to our regular routine either the day baby is born or the day after. This time we were already on holiday break and were supposed to start school the day baby was born, so I took the rest of the first week off then started up again on Monday (baby was born on a Tuesday). But this time I just feel like I want to take more time off not because I don't want to do school but for "me" time. I know how fast this time with a newborn will go and I don't want to miss a single moment. I feel guilty, though, for wanting that time. I'm very driven and hard on myself, I push myself and it feels good to be back on our regular schedule (helps with that horrible pp blues, too), but there's that other part of me that wants to take just my new baby and go sit at Starbuck's or walk the mall, to be away from my home/homeschool duties and just be a new mom. I find myself envying my sil who had 3mo off of work to adjust to being a new mom, who had nothing else to do but be with her baby. If anyone has words of wisdom for me I would sure appreciate it. Right now my emotions are on overdrive so I can't seem to make a decision that doesn't have me in tears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Why don't you consider a 2 week on, 1 week off schedule? The original question greatly depends on the baby. For my sickly boy we took a year off. Of course, it worked fine with an advanced preschooler to skip K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I think you can take 3 months off and your family's education would still be above par :D But honestly? yeah, take the time off that you need. It's better for everyone stress-wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4boys Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 When I had my youngest I took two weeks off but I honestly could have used more. And that was only schooling one child who was in kindergarten. You have way more on your plate so I can totally understand why you would want more time! I like the 2 weeks on/1 week off idea too. Then you would still be accomplishing things and feeling good about being on a schedule and yet you would still have a whole week off from it to enjoy your baby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollie010 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I'm struggling with the same thing. Our new baby was born in December. We were so busy with the holidays that we had no routine at all. Now I feel like I still need a month or two to spend with baby and get back on a routine with housework. But, I also feel guilty for taking too much time off from our already very light school schedule. Laurel T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Sometimes I've taken as little as a few days sometimes a couple of months. It depended on the personality of the baby and the time of year the baby is born and what's going on. With the most recent I took about 2 weeks off. After that the older kids were getting on my nerves so bad we HAD to go back to school to give them some structure to their day. If I don't keep their minds occupied, then they find something on their own to occupy their minds and usually those things are NOT good. I already had all my lessons planned out (I store everything in a database and then just assign dates when I ready to do something and it prints out a spreadsheet with those assignments on it). So for the first couple of months back school was light but I chose those subjects they were most able to do without much help from me. That way they were keeping busy. I didn't feel guilty for neglecting school completely and I could spend the bulk of my "free" time tending to the toddler and the new baby. Now is the perfect time to do a unit study. Find a topic, get a bunch of books from the library (mine lets me order then online so I can do that while taking care of the baby) and then assign them to your kids each day. They will learn something, they are occupied, and you don't have much to do. If you want to you can do activities, or ask them questions but around here I don't even manage to get that done - they just read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I took two months off with my third. Like you, that time was so fleeting, and so special, I didn't want to give it up for math and grammar. I sat in my chair, and smelled her, and held her in a little ball (trying to imagine her in my tummy), and dozed, and sang, and talked to her. I made memories that I will have with me forever. Oh, and the other kids caught up on their math and grammar in no time at all. :) Blessings, Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Our 4th and last child was born last August, and I took 3 months off. I schooled in the summer to sort of make up for that time, but the 3 months off was very nice, and we all enjoyed the baby very much. We cuddled a lot and just went ga ga over our last little one. We are still on track with everyone. Of course, my oldest is only in 4th grade, but we are still on track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I think you should take the time off if you think you need it. And if you think you need it, then you do. No one will suffer in the long run. It will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcara Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Really, take the time you need!! Your little one will be little for such a short time!!! :) I always have to plan about a month because of all the out-of-town visitors we have. I wish I was stronger about tell them that our family would like our own quiet time with our family. They think they're "helping." Are there any things that your dc can do independently? You could have them do these things so that they are getting some things done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Are there any things that your dc can do independently? You could have them do these things so that they are getting some things done. :iagree:You could have them drill each other in math facts, vocabulary and spelling words and read to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emeraldjoy Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Well......she was born on November 20th and last week I managed to get 3 half days in (the first days since birth by the way). I know what you mean about understanding the fleeting moments. I did not want to miss anything because I know how fast it goes. I found if I did a little something with the bigger ones early in the day (and I mean little like an hour total) then they were better behaved for the rest of the day and we all just got to hang out staring at the baby listening to good music, reading good books for the rest of the day. Just a few days ago one of my friends was over (she is a homeschooling mother of 5) and she said after a baby you need a year!! I like hearing that!!!! Just love that baby, go to the library get a bunch of good documentaries, stock up on good books, good music, good food and just hang out enjoy this precious, precious time. ....I am telling this to myself as well....... Emerald Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I ended up needing 4 months to adjust to the new baby, basically we took all of fall semester off that year, and then did lite school for second semester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I took 3 months off after the birth of my twins, two months off after my new baby. I think I took five weeks off after my now-five year old, BUT my other dc were all 5 and older, so there were no other little ones to keep track of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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