An Open letter to New Teacher Mamas- You’ll never believe what a student thought my breast pump was!

New Teacher Moms – The Struggle is Real! I’ve been there and while not making light of the situation let’s take a walk down the groggy sleep deprived memory lane and uplift you with a funny, shaking your head “is this really true story?”

You are not going to want to miss this new teacher mom story. It seems quite unbelievable looking back on it but was seared into my postpartum brain and I still live to tell the tale to other teacher mamas and hope it brings you a laugh, some comfort and a HUGE lesson in grace!

The Setting: early 2015 in a tiny rural 4th grade classroom. (I was the only 4th grade teacher if that gives you an idea of the size!)

That morning after dropping off my son, I arrived at school hurriedly (who doesn’t) and after unzipping my winter coat realized I still had a burp rag on my shoulder.

Ha- that was nothing. I laughed it off and began setting out morning work, arranging copies for the day, going over my plans all minutes before students arrive.

Plan Time: (…mind you not a graphic story but definitely some female anatomy related talk….)

A break…except not a break because any spare moment coming back to school was spent pumping – ya feel me. My room joined two others but I had a large closet to use (not complaining it was a choice for privacy)

As an exhausted new mom and teacher coming back to school was stressful enough. Apparently that impacts supply….no one tells you this (or told me anyway).

I was getting maybe half of what I did at home and was ADAMANT that my pump was broke …….not……going back to work and our schedule change. It had to be the pump in my mind….you can see where this is going…definitely couldn’t just be my body and adjusting to a new postpartum phase.

I spent the rest of plan time after pumping, storing milk and cleaning on the phone with the pump company begging for a different pump – hormonal, exhausted after getting passed around on the phone.

Then the kids come back….

Well…during the phone call with the company they have your try different things and ask questions so I had to have my pump out and available and I clearly forgot to put it away.

I make my way up to the front of the room after a small crowd was already gathering.

“What’s that?” “What’s it doing there?” “It’s plugged in…”

I feel the heat rising (not like I could be embarrassed about it…just wasn’t prepared to explain it to my class in that moment as a first time mom) I think I froze, then I hear…

“Oh ya…that’s a breathing machine (nebulizer) that you use when you are sick,” “Are you sick, Mrs. Ernst?”

I mean when you think about it….there are some similarities….never mind this had two parts that looked like breathing treatments but the connection made sense.

It took the embarrassment right out of me. “Just a little, definitely getting better. Just forgot to put it away. Thanks for the reminder.”

Another student came up later and winked at me (very mature for her time!) and noted, “I know what that was Mrs. Ernst. My mom has one too for my baby brother.” She could tell I was flustered and was trying to make it ok.

What’s the point of this Teacher Moms?

Give yourself grace! Almost everything can wait. Your students understand it’s a big transition and are just happy to see you even if getting back to routine takes a little while.

No doubt you have your own story – or maybe will in the future and can remember….it wasn’t as bad as this….or it’s worse but you lived through it!

The newborn days are so tough (or were for me). Coming back was the right decision for us but it’s not easy!

Lean on your support system.

Laugh at your stories and with your students!

Take it a day at a time.

…and maybe don’t leave your breast pump out for questioning (unless you feel comfortable with that)

Let me hear your best teacher mom story! Share below!