BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Maria Kreutinger had just gotten back to work in January teaching third grade at St. Mark in North Buffalo.
She had baby Winifred -- Fred for short -- in august.
I was so ready to go back,” she said.
Once she got the hang of being a new mom, Kreutinger said she was ready for some grown-up time again.
“Once you kind of figure it out, it’s back to work — it was great to see other adults, and also see students, then we got into this routine. Then the routine was gone; and it's back to postpartum.”
So now she has the responsibility of caring for her 8-month-old child and everyone else’s children, too.
She and her co-teacher filmed five weeks worth of lessons to put on their youtube channel to keep children engaged.
“I think in the beginning, I was really struggling because every day was a snow day. It was like a snow day but you still have to work.”
Her husband is also a teacher, and they decided to set up a schedule for who would be caring for Fred, and when.
“{We} just take turns watching Fred and then incorporating her in our lives because she's here with us, so you might as well make the most of it.”
For Kreutinger, it helps her to manage this new reality by realizing most parents are in the same boat.
“Parents, they're not getting a break. You don't get to have your 7 o'clock yoga class, and you don't get to walk around the grocery store and look at items. And that's — what's very hard for me.”
She says it’s hard, but is also taking into account her own needs.
