Question for teachers who are also parents

[lyeag]

Yes, I do. I try and juggle who I am shorting but it kills me inside knowing that my kids won't be young forever.

I felt like that a lot with my second child. She spent her first 4 years in daycare while I taught. With my oldest, I was able to be at home with her until she was 2.5 and then I worked part time at her daycare while I took classes. My son was in daycare for the first year and then I stayed home. There is a HUGE difference in my middle child and the other two. I missed so much with her. She was exactly 6 weeks old when I started my first year of teaching. We needed the job and the benefits, but I think she missed out on a lot and so did I.

We don't NEED the money, but we have bills like everyone else. I am just having a hard time seeing an outcome that doesn't leave me frazzled and little time for enjoying my children that involves full time teaching.

 

[momm2four]

I taught upper elem. for 5 years, then quit to be a SAHM to my four boys (who we had in a 5 year span). When my youngest was 3.5 yrs, I went to our nearest middle school (4 min. from my house) and asked if there would be a math position available, b/c I thought that if I could teach math all day, that would be ideal.

To try to make a long story short, there ended up being an interim 7th grade math position which turned into a year long job. I really LOVED middle school and the fact that I just taught math instead of having a self-contained class where I taught everything. It really worked well for my family, so well I went back this year.

I leave home early (around 6 am), and my DH gets the three oldest to school and my 5 year old to preschool 3 days per week. One of my best friends keep my youngest on days when he doesn't have school, unless my DH works evenings in which case, he stays at home with his dad.

I really don't miss too much b/c I have a boss who values family and doesn't mind if I leave our school to go eat lunch with my kids if need be (on my breaks or if I have my class covered) Their school is only 5 minutes from my school, so I can always run over there quickly. Also, I get out at 2:30 and they get out at 3:10, so the only time they really miss seeing me is the hour in the AM when they are getting ready for school.

Another reason I like being back teaching is that when I was a volunteer at my sons' school, I was there ALL the time. I guess I'm thinking if I'm going to be at a school, working all the time, I may as well get paid for it.

I suppose the big factor would be how flexible would your boss be? How far are you from your child's school? I think if I were in a job where I felt that I never saw my kids, then I would feel a little disconnected.

Are there times that I feel too busy? Yes, but I felt that way when I was a SAHM. Do I get tired of getting up at 5 in the morning? Yes, but I actually enjoy my job, and it's nice to not feel so strapped for cash all the time.

I think taking the plunge back into teaching is the hardest part, but I don't regret it at all.

Lori P.

 

[NookOfTheNorth]

First of all, I've always been a working mother / teacher--went back at 7 weeks with both kids. Nor, do I have any family that can help me out. What I did do was find a wonderful babysitter (same one for 8 years), and my girls (5 and 8) feel like a part of this family. And, on those days that are early release or I have conferences, my girls just go there. That helps with working.

Second, I do not allow myself to feel guilt because it simply is not healthy. Sure, there are some times things that I give up on--like a spotless house--or Christmas cards. We also work together as a family. While I make dinner, my girls pack their lunches and do any homework. We stick to a schedule.

Also, I always put my children first. I save my personal days for field trips. I have a good relationship with other teachers, so if I need to go to my girls' schools, I have someone to cover my class. I stay well-planned at school because that makes all the difference. Sure, there are nights I have to stay up a little later and grade, but I just brew a pot of coffee. I do not grade until my girls go to bed at 8:30 pm.

So, if teaching is something you feel strongly about it, then I would say go for it. But, you have to be committed to making the situation work.

 

[paigevz]

NookoftheNorth could've written my response. I have two boys, though, and further apart than hers!

The first one was born in April, I went back to teaching to close the year when he was just 4 weeks old, but that was only for a week and a half, and then we had the summer. He had a family daycare provider that first year, and then preschool/daycare center until he started Kinder at my school.

My second was born just after the close of school for the summer. I took extra time, and didn't have him in care until October. We've had the same fabulous in-home provider for him all this time, and he is the only one she's watched. He will start the same preschool/daycare center the older one was in this fall................he is much more dependent/spoiled than the first, and needs a buffer year before K.

This is the first year I've felt a bit overwhelmed, but it's because we had a new house built and closed on it last June. I have taken on 10 hours a week of extra tutoring to make the bigger house payment. It was important for us, since DS needed a new neighborhood for middle school (we were living in my school's neighborhood, low socioeconomic status with all the problems that come with it..........I could keep a close eye on him in my school, but didn't want him in that middle school without me, and I REALLY didn't want to teach there!), and the rates were so good at that time, but I do wish we could've waited a year or two so I didn't have so much to do.

Other than that extra tutoring, I have felt great about the balance between my profession and children. Basically, once my older one started school, we've been together the same amount of time we would've been if I was a SAHM. Of course, when they are smaller, I have to leave for work when they're home.............but younger ds sleeps in, gets up and breakfasts, does art and playdoh, goes outside, has lunch, plays in the playroom, has stories and videos, and then I'm home. Not too different from if I were with him!

I also arrange for time, either by juggling schedules, getting someone else to dismiss my class after their specials (since we have the last hour period), or taking a half day, to go to Muffins with Mom, report card conferences, and such this year with DS in another school, up until this year his teachers were my colleagues and it was even easier.............I don't go on field trips, but that's because DS prefers that I don't!

But, everyone is different, and I'm sure you'll find the right fit for you.