Sen Xi is AMAZING and we love her. Living in Shanghai makes it very easy to hire a full time Ayi (nanny) for while I'm back teaching full time. We are SOOO lucky (sorry for the all caps, but I can't emphasize enough how wonderful she is). We started out with another Ayi who wasn't really that into babies and never seemed to care much for Keelan, but Sen Xi adores him. She meets us every morning and helps take Keelan onto the bus to school. Once there, we get him all set up at our good friend Beth Tucker's house who lives across the street from the school (Beth is another amazing person worthy of her own post later). I spend the day running back and forth teaching classes and nursing and/or pumping, which is hectic, but worth it. Just to be able to hold him and be with him during the day and know that he is nearby and in safe hands, is a wonderful blessing. Sen Xi will play with him, take him on walks, walk around with him in the ergo baby carrier, give him a bath and just love him while I'm away. She even reads books to him in English. I've seen her using her translator to make sure she is pronouncing the words correctly to him! Initially I was very sad to be going back to work, but I feel he is so safe with her that I don't feel so upset anymore. I really have so much respect for ALL breast feeding/pumping working (and non) moms everywhere. It is such a big challenge and I can't imagine having to go back after only 6 weeks like most moms in the USA. I had 10 weeks paid and then took 4 extra unpaid weeks so was out of the new newborn stage when I started back. Even though it's great to be back at work and see all my 3-5th grade kiddos, I'm looking forward to being with Keelan full time again. I don't want to miss a thing :-)
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