Two Weeks

Well I received the response from my Dean, and the last day Nadia is allowed on campus at all is Sept 30. Then she's not allowed back on campus until she's 18 years old. So I am asking for 75% reduced time parental leave for the remaining 2/3 of the semester (beginning Oct 1) and 50% reduced time parental leave for the spring semester. I would like to keep teaching my Tues pm class this semester and teach on Monday and Tuesday nights in the spring. I was scheduled to teach one night class and 3 afternoon classes in the spring, but I changed that with my dept chair this morning to two afternoon and two evening classes before I got the letter from the Dean. I feel badly about leaving my students in the middle of the semester, and I find it ironic that I will have worked FT during the time of the move and then PT after we've settled in our new home (as life will be a lot less stressful for me then). I know I won't regret my decision though. My daughter comes first over my job.

Today was a busy day as I had a curriculum meeting with my dept chair and Dean at 9:15 and then a meeting with the psych dept (regarding curriculum changes) at 10:00 and then took Nadia to the doctor for her bloodwork (OUCH for Nadia!), and then Donna came and helped me pack and clean the stove and refrigerator before I went back to work for office hours and teaching (then Nadia was home with Daddy). I am currently the chair of my dept's search and screen committee (chairing four tenure track searches that we are trying to fill by January) and the co-chair of our curriculum committee. I plan to stay on the committees but resign as chair from both of them in light of cutting back to 25%. So my days won't be so hectic starting October 2. I will wait a bit to tell my students. It's going to be hard to tell them without getting emotional. That will be my goal though. I don't want to stand up there crying. I cried enough in my office last Wednesday when I got the first email from the Dean about this. It is wonderful to be able to spend more time with my daughter. We can swing it financially with 50% of my salary plus Paul's stipend. I have no idea who will teach my classes, but I guess that's not my problem. I asked permission for this arrangement in February and was only told in September that it's not allowed.

Last night Nadia had another 6 hour stretch. Unfortunately I was doing school work and then wasn't feeling well (intestinal issues) so I only slept 4 hours of that time, and she got up at 5:30 so I only got 6 hours total. Still I am very pleased that 6 hour stretches are becoming the norm. I don't mean to sound "greedy" but now I'm hoping that might extend to 7 hours. :-)