I have five children. On Monday, I gave birth to my third child in my first year of teaching. On Wednesday, I supervised juniors setting up Prom and chaperoned Prom on Saturday. Then, the following Monday, I was back to work. I was also only gone for one work week for the next two.

I could not afford to stay home without pay and needed to use my sick days sparingly because I needed days to stay home with sick children when needed. Each of these children were breastfed so I would eat quickly so that I could go pump milk in the kitchen staff restroom before class started but that is a different story.

Julie Peterson-Shea
North Central Kansas