Teacher+Work


 * My First**

I lay there, the pain overwhelming every part of my exhausted body. My heavy breathing subsided into shallow gasps as tears ran down my face. My husband was squeezing my hand and I suddenly realized how tightly he was really grasping. I pulled my hand loose and looked into his face; still hearing the quiet sounds in the room.

In a split second everything came back into focus and I realized that there was movement all around me. My mother and sister had tears pouring from their eyes, but I could see the pools of joy they contained. My husband was smiling at me-more proud than I had ever seen him. Then I realized that I didn't hear the one sound that I wanted to-the sound of my son crying. I looked over my right shoulder at the doctor who had been my rock over the last nine months. The wonderful woman who was there to share the joys and concerns of my sometimes tumultuous pregnancy, and realized that she had a look of concern on her face.

"Is he breathing?" I whispered, praying to God that my beautiful child was as perfect as I had always imagined. The nurse, a small woman with a caring smile, looked at me with kind eyes. "He's just fine. He seems to know that he belongs here-he doesn't have any reason to cry."

With those words my heart leaped with joy. He seems to know that he belongs here. I looked at my husband and began to sob. How long had we been anticipating this beautiful bundle? Then the nurse placed that handsome,red-faced, silent child into my arms. My heart swelled with instant love and protection, and my husband looked at me with soft eyes filled with the love of a first-time father, and I knew that this moment couldn't be more perfect.


 * What's in a Name?**

At school my name is Mrs. Alguire; At home I'm Mama; On stage I'm Drama Queen; With my husband I'm Babe or Honey; But the name I was born with was plain old Sarah.

How to move from personality to personality- - How do I become each of these different people? Teacher, caretaker, actress, lover & friend. Sometimes the transition is easy... Like going from teacher to mother when my son's big hazel eyes look at me with love...

Sometimes I wish I could invent a new name entirely-one that would let me be just me. What would that name be? Growing up it was Lisa-if I could've only had that name everything would be perfect!

What would that name be now? Something creative and funny? Something seductive? Something with great family history?

No... I think I will just keep the names I have. After all, with all the choices I can be whoever I want to: Teacher& Learner Caretaker & Healer Actress & Director Companion & Soulmate


 * My Favorite Sound**

As I hear the sudden crash from the other room, I know exactly what is happening. I move stealthily to the doorway where I can watch without being seen. The little wild man races around the room destroying every inch of space in sight. Puzzle pieces crash to the ground, while Thomas engines block the only walkable path.

I quietly enter the room, but the screaming banshee sees me immediately-there is no hiding. I try to put on a look of disappointment, but he knows it is just an act. "Look! Look, Mama!" He shouts with such enthusiasm that I can't help but laugh with him. His impish grin and beautiful smile immediately melt my heart. In an effort to show off even more, the second puzzle goes crashing to ground from his little round table. Again, he screams with happiness, but this time races toward me. He grabs my hand and pulls me toward his "masterpiece." He cannot wait to share this magical kingdom that he has made.

As I sit down with him among the engines and puzzle pieces, I realize that the sounds that I listened to from the doorway were not the sounds of a child on a path of destruction, but those of a child who was on the path of creativity, "Look what me did, Mommy," he says with a grin. "Look at me engines and me trucks." Instead of answering, I pull him into my lap and kiss his blonde forehead. He turns to look at me with his big hazel eyes, and says, "you love Colin Michael?" "Yes," I reply smiling. "I love Colin Michael."


 * Seeing Differently with the Same Pair of Eyes**

It jets across the landscape careful of where it lands. Its coverage is like that of a child's blanket-carefully wrapping the earth with its needed comfort. The orb of light above sends rays in various angles helping the droplets to twinkle like the stars, captivating its audience's attention. Never is it this quiet for long...I am suddenly pulled from my reverie by the shriek of a delighted two-year-old. The Thomas the Tank Engine water sprinkler jets in all directions as the sun catches it in its gaze. I see his tanned limbs in the evening sun, soaking wet, and "nakie-nakie," as he calls his diaperless body. I watch in wonder- jealous that something so simple could make him so happy. Melancholy that days like this will end too soon. Reminded that life is as beautiful as you take the time to make it.