SAHM of 6 yrs, back to teaching-unhappy?
Find a Conversation
| Sat, 02-03-2007 - 9:03am |
A teacher by trade, I enjoy my career. It's family friendly, has great benefits and is a good income. And I love my class and school (a K-6 with three mixed-grade rooms).
My son (1st) is in the room below mine and *loves* the fact that I'm in his school every day, all day. He can't wait til 2nd when he gets to be in my room through 4th grade.
My daughter starts K next year and will be in 2nd when my son is in 4th (not really something I'm looking forward to, teaching one or both of my kids for 5 years...)
I taught full time for 2 yrs, moved with my husband's job, and subbed for 2 yrs before my babies were born. Then I was home for 6. This year is my first one back and I've had such a hard time deciding what I think of it.
I love my job and I don't want to be unprofessional and quit after only a year in a new school, but I feel like I'm losing these years with my kids. I'm always so rushed in the evenings/weekends catching up on stuff I can't do during the day. And I don't know that I want to live for the summers.
I'm torn. If I go home again, I feel like I'll let my (school) kids down. The teacher I replaced just retired after 30 years. My kids have been feeling me out all year, "Mrs.P? Are you old enough to retire?" with nervous voices.
If I don't, I feel like I'm letting down my family. Talking with my colleagues, the K/1 teacher taught all through her kids' childhoods, from birth onward. She basically gives me pep talks along the lines of "buck up, it just takes organization and management."
Our SpEd teacher was home with her kids until they were in (and out of) high school. She "doesn't know how I do it".
My husband is, and always has been, *completely* supportive and just wants me to be happy...
Any thoughts are welcome!!

I am not sure if I am a good person to reply or comment on this topic,
but when I read your post, it did give me some insight of my own problem.
I am on the other hand, a stay home mom for a year now. I was working
for myself and when I had my daughter it's natural for us to decide I stay home.
because I was working for myself so I have no where full time or a place to go back,
but there's something missing in me, the passion of doing what I like and feel the achievement on my own. But I put all this aside for my family, now been a year
and just i thought I will stay home from now and forget about my own thing.
I found I also feel torn and not myself, no matter what how much I spend with my family which I feel most treasure about, there's still something missing deep down.
I guess my point is: somewhere there's people like me thinking how wonderful mom can also do something for their passion, and there's mom who works feel missing the time with the kids.
I think this is a common problem for us, just the other day my husband said i try to do everything. And I already have no time beside taking care of family, and if I have to choose
I feel that I have to choose my family, so it's logical to put aside other thing first.
then we will feel no completely sometimes. I can't decide for you, but it sounds like
you already quit years ago when you thought you miss the time with the kids,
and of course you don't want to disappoint the kids from school also. I think it's the question of which decision will make you feel most happy and benefit the most.
sorry, I wish I have a straight answer for you, I myself still struggle.
Bella