Well after best part of 42 weeks away (2 weeks holiday at start & a week at end of 39 weeks leave) I am now back at work. Should have been last week but our childminder was on holiday so managed about 3 hrs on Thursday to discuss things with the head of my discipline as he is on holiday himself this week and I am on holiday again next week. Then Clearing hits us…..
My office is starting to regain the mess it always has – although it has also gained a few new pictures – of Sqk obviously. Had my first colleague knock on door this afternoon – and agreed to take on two PhD students as primary supervisor – so I am coming back with a vengeance. Major thing for me is I have to be out the door at 1600 and not let things overtake me as they have in the past. There is a little boy who needs me to come home and spend time with him – becoming a mother really changes your perspective on work-life balance.
Expecting quietish time for next few weeks – well other than clearing that is – give some time to sort lectures out and work out what I am doing this coming year – less teaching contact hours I do know. Mind you when I last taught in Semester 2 of 2012-3 year I was doing between 20 & 25 hrs a week in 4-4.5 days and doing research and holding down a major admin role. No way I can manage that again although I do seem to have ended up with 2 major admin roles for a while (crossover following merger of two schools into on faculty and creation of three schools within faculty). But given I still want my senior lecturer promotion I need the admin role to justify that – plus I need to chase feedback on why I didn’t get it last September.
However all of this is secondary to ensuring that Sqk still has plenty of time with us and our attachment continues to grow. I love that little boy to bits and hearing him say ‘I love you Mummy’ for first time last night was something else.
rh
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