Back to Oboe (School)

It is time for back to school and all of the nostalgia that comes along with it. Different stages of education always meant different things. When we were younger, my Mom would pack us all up and attempt to do everyone's shopping at once. Usually clothing on one trip and supplies on another outing. Later, as we got older and into middle and high school we would split up boys and girls shopping trips.
It was always so fun to get excited about fresh pens, notebooks, and always something a little bit fun and funky like whether it was a pink jansport backpack or a cute new hairstyle.
I was ALWAYS excited to see friends that I'd missed for the past several months, and see how people had changed- because let's face it, kids are always changing.
In my life, this typically also always meant coming back to the oboe after some type of break whether it was a break in lessons, or as I got older, a break in the intensity of practice sessions and routine.
This back to school season for me means a lot of shifts, changes, and flexibility. Since my baby boy was born, I obviously have not been playing as much as usual. The demands of caring for a newborn don't leave much room for practicing oboe, and often when I find that he is down for a nap and I have time to practice I am either too tired or can't find a muffled enough area to honk away where I won't affect his sleep. Fun new challenges.
I also had a c-section. I realize that some people actually plan to have these... I didn't. I did not expect that I would have to recover not only from the stress of laboring for 12+ hours, but also from MAJOR surgery involving all of the muscles that I use to play. To give you an idea, my ab muscles feel so weak that I feel as though I have no control over them... I am trying to do some simple exercises  and stretches now that my six week recovery window has passed- but I can tell that this is just going to take some time.
In the meantime, I have scraped plenty of easier reeds. Interestingly enough, I have found that my English horn playing hardly feels different- it is oboe that feels funky when I try to use my regular amount of air support.
So, advice for not only all of you back to schoolers, but to myself as well! :
After taking any type of break from playing, and re-immersing yourself into oboe land, you should consider the following...

1. Take it easy. Just like an athlete, your muscles have been conditioned to perform a certain way. If you hop back into a practice regimen with the same intensity that you were used to before a break, you can injure yourself. Try some simple stretches before you play, shoulder rolls, reaching your arms above your head, and gently rotating your wrists are all good things to do. 
2. Break up your playing into small, super-manageable chunks. This is something that I have always done anyway. It helps me to maintain better focus, and I find that for me it puts less stress on my right hand and arm muscles to give myself frequent breaks. If you have an hour's worth of work to do, try splitting it in half or even into thirds!
3. Don't try to be a reed hero. The great thing about our reeds is that they are open to customization. If you need a softer reed to help you re-transition back to playing, it is not a mark on you. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher to lighten your reed, and pros... nobody has to even know if you don't want them to :)
4. Use some support. I have a plethora of oboe support devices in my music room. I sometimes pull out a neck strap for oboe and a handy dandy peg for English horn. No biggie. I don't like to perform with them, but for a practice sesh or teaching, they are awesome.
5. Check out your embouchure. It is easy for lips to get a little lackadaisical after a break from the oboe. Use an easily accessible mirror and just check out your embouchure situation with the reed alone. Remember, these are a very specific set of muscles and they may need some TLC.
6. Find your joy. It is easy to become frustrated with playing if it feels uncomfortable or more difficult than before a break. Don't sweat it. Think about what made you pick up your oboe in the first place. Pretty soon, you will be back in great playing shape!!!