Too Many Cooks

I went back to work last week and decided that it's very unnatural for new moms to have a job. My 45 day maternity leave seemed to pass by too quickly, and now that I am back at work I'm hating every minute of it.

Lucky for me, the kids at school are having their finals, so they're only in for an hour every day. The rest of the time we're devoted to checking, making reports, writing out next year's syllabus, ordering books and equipment for the next teachers and packing up for the summer.

Even luckier for me, I get to keep Ayzah with me. Administration has been really kind, so Ayzah stays in the staffroom as I go about my day.

Since babies are the center of everyone's world, Ayzah has created a strong fan following. Every day I have ten different people willing to help carry her, change her, put her to sleep... you name it, there are people to help. It's a good feeling, until there are too many of them...

Being a part of the Arab community, I soon learned that they are very stubborn. Everyone thinks that they "know" what they are doing. When Ayzah starts crying, I have a dozen people hovering around, each with their own thought process...

"She's hungry, you have to feed her"
"She needs a diaper change"
"She's cold, touch her feet, they're freezing"
"You didn't bring socks?!?"
"Wait, you aren't wrapping her right, let me do it"
"Why is she still crying?"
"Maybe she needs to sleep"
"Or maybe her stomach is hurting"
"You should burp her"
"No wait, it's gas"
"Hold her across your lap"
"No on your shoulder..."

And as they all carry on about themselves, each contributing to what they think is correct, I sit back smiling, knowing that they all love her, and they all want to help.