SEAHO Report - Summer 2012 - (Page 23)

SEAHO FEATURE toward small spaces that may provide ideas to maximize your space. Space outside of our apartment has also raised thoughts, ideas, and concerns once our son became mobile. He loves to run the length of the building’s hallway which gives an outlet for energy and an opportunity to explore new places. This, of course, brings safety concerns to be addressed to the forefront – exposed outlets, stairwells, and open doors. Outdoor space has been one of the things I lament the most. On one hand, I live on a campus that resembles a park with lots of open green space and nature to explore. On the other hand, I am not able to provide the opportunity to walk out my back door and into a safe, secure play place. Parks with swing sets and slides are close, but require intentional planning. community. Maryville College is not a stranger to live-in children, but had seen a hiatus of several years. While most students were excited at the thought of having babies so close by, a small group of students were concerned about their space and rights being infringed upon – they could only imagine long nights of wailing newborns and imposed 24-hour quiet hours with stiff penalties. Fortunately for everyone the thin walls of my residence hall were thick enough to hold most of my son’s cries. However, I only knew this because I approached the students in the adjacent room, concerned that they would be disturbed, on move-in day. I feel a students’ benefit of interaction with a livein family far outweigh the negatives. The role modeling that comes with live-in parenthood can be a wonderful example of family function, discipline, love, and of course, work-personal life balance that we so often preach. Students have a window into a real world experience of a different kind when they live and eat with you. I have found few students that genuinely dislike the sweet coos of a newborn or the unrefined wave of a toddler. On many occasions my son’s smile broke the ice and facilitated an opportunity to connect with my students. One of the most obvious positives for everyone involved is the opportunity to employ a student in the role of caregiver. Though I am very selective about who watches my child, I often joke that I have an entire campus of sitters just waiting for a call. While I am only 15 months in and barely scratched the surface of questions and concerns about live-in parenthood, I am hopeful that you are at the least intrigued and at best inspired by my experience. Each individual and situation requires assessment of the vast array of possibilities and decisions that are right for your unique circumstance. On the whole, I have been extremely pleased with my decision to pursue live-in parenthood and I would choose to do so again if I had the opportunity to start over. If you are interested in further conversation or the possibility of beginning a network of live-in/on families, feel free to contact me at stephanie.moore@maryvillecollege.edu. Balance. I have found it is sometimes difficult to be a fulltime, salaried, working mother with a position that often knows no bounds when it comes to personal life. As I neared the end of maternity leave, sleep-deprived and just barely able to keep up with a newborn’s feeding and diapers, I worried that I simply would not be able to play both parts well. Fortunately, I was able to hear wisdom from a seasoned colleague. She told me that I needed to choose my non-negotiables; for her it was baths and story time. She also limited her evening meetings between the hours of 8 and 10pm. I have made a habit of scheduling lunch meetings with students, which may be more convenient for them, in order to maximize family time. My son will occasionally go on rounds with me or be toted along to deliver something to a student. It is important to set boundaries with students and staff, communicating clearly about time that is ‘off limits.’ My husband and I have also found Google calendar with its many colors and options to be particularly useful in organizing the different facets of our work and family life. For example, if either of us has an after-hours meeting, the other is invited to care for our son during that time. When I am at my office I can easily pull up time available to schedule appointments. Impact. My little bundle of joy was the second in four months to become a part of our small campus SEAHO Report Summer 2012 23

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Summer 2012

SEAHO Report - Summer 2012