3 → 4 → 6 hours and counting
This week I’m moving into the next and final phase of my work transition: working 6 hours a day, from 8:00 – 14:00. No breaks. Just straight hours of Kindergarten energy. Good thing it’s just three working days this week, or I might have to request physiotherapy for my spirit.
But let’s rewind a bit to Week 2 (aka 4-hour week) – which honestly felt like 3 hours with extra paperwork. It’s like Kita time bends reality – you blink, and it’s lunch, and then it’s time to go. But it was a solid week.
I had a short but important meeting with our company’s health personnel about something called BEM (Betriebliches Eingliederungsmanagement). Basically, it’s another short-term transition plan for work – once I’m done with the current phase. Unlike my doctor-prescribed one, where I’m still officially on sick leave (aka reduced hours and reduced salary), the BEM means I’ll be back at work full-time, with normal shifts – but with restrictions. Mainly no lifting children or doing sleep-watch duties that involve crouching or strain. Totally fair, and it feels like the right support for my back recovery.
We also started preparing our big kids for their graduation! 🎓 A surprise performance is in the making (I won’t spoil it), and our first practice actually went well – even if some of the children were at someone’s birthday. We’ve been working on programs, invitations, and other little pieces. It’s on July 1st – and coming fast!
As for Duolingo… I missed a day. ONE DAY. And that’s all it took to fall out of the Diamond League after four proud weeks 😭 But silver lining? I landed in the Obsidian League with a friend, and now we’re racing each other to the top spot. It’s giving me life! (I’m currently Top 1, but the day isn’t over… Duolingo drama is real.)
Meanwhile, physiotherapy is ongoing. I only have 4 sessions left, and I’m crossing my fingers I can get more. My current sessions are a mix of gentle exercises and glorious massage moments. I know the goal is recovery, but I’m lowkey just showing up for those tension-release rubs. Too short, always – but always worth it.
Health-wise, I’m doing better. I rarely feel the old numbness, and the “blocked throat” sensation is gone. The back pain is still there, especially at night when I’m completely worn out, but we’re managing it with warming or cooling creams – whichever the evening demands. Recovery is happening… just slower than I’d like. And yes, I still feel guilty about not doing my physio exercises regularly at home – but I like to think the Kita chaos, daily commute, and cleaning count for something, right?
So I look forward for this week and thanks to a German holiday on Thursday and a classic Brückentag (bridge day) on Friday – which most of us love because: long weekend! (Even if it does cost us a vacation day.)
On Thursday, we’ll be driving back to that other apartment – the one we’ve been “meaning to move out of” since… well, last year. We had a plan. A beginning-of-2024 kind of plan. But one thing led to another, and suddenly we were staring at the end of the year… and my husband just looked at me and said, “First quarter of 2025!” 🙄 And we’re somehow already halfway through the second quarter of 2025 – and still not moved out. So yes, it’s mildly frustrating. Especially since it’s mostly out of my control.
Hmmmm so kinda frustrating, but also a reminder that life doesn’t always move on the timelines we plan. Add to that my husband’s chronic back and neck pain (which is even longer-running than mine), and you’ll understand why the move is taking forever. I’ve decided: this is going to be the next saga. A new series or something equally dramatic.
➡️ “The Move-Out Saga: Leaving the Apartment We Barely Lived In.”
Stay tuned. 😆
As I slowly find my footing again – at work, at home, and somewhere in between – I’ve been collecting little lessons along the way. Nothing groundbreaking, just honest realizations that have helped me stay grounded (and occasionally sane) during this whole back-and-forth. So before I wrap up this week’s entry, I thought I’d share a few things that have stuck with me:
💡 Little Lessons from my Sick Leave Saga
Speak up for your needs – Don’t wait until you’re crying into your pillow or lost behind a warehouse. Say what hurts. Ask for adjustments. Most people aren’t mind-readers (sadly).
Celebrate small wins – Whether it’s surviving a 4-hour shift or staying in the top 10 of Duolingo while folding laundry, it counts. Tiny victories keep the mood up.
Rest isn’t laziness (and guilt is not cardio) – Skipping a physio stretch doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Pacing is recovery too.
Give yourself a gold star (or a Netflix binge) – I reward myself with a PS5 game or a Thriller-Mystery episodes – but only after I’ve done the things I said I’d do. Because adulting needs prizes.
Let the chaos be funny – From missed trains to mystery warehouses, it’s all blog material now. Laughing doesn’t fix your back, but it helps your mood.
Next week will be my last “sick leave saga” entry – back to full shifts (well, almost)! After that, we’ll see where this blog takes me… maybe straight into the chaos of downsizing, minimalism, and letting go of two decades of stuff. 😅
Thanks for reading – again. 💚