to think teaching isn't the idea career for mums?

[alisunshine29]

I'm studying for a degree at the moment and had planned to complete my PGCE afterwards but since speaking to the mum of DD's friend I've changed my mind. She's a teacher at the same school as her daughters and they go to breakfast club from 8 and after school club til. 6. She said they are in bed for 7 and then she has a couple of hours more work to do every night, plus a days worth at the weekend. She gets to attend nativity etc but only because they're at the same school otherwise she'd miss those events. AIBU to think a 9-5 job might actually be more practical?

My dd is a teacher as was I. She worked part time till dc were in school and now cm and I share after school pickups . She is home by 5 and works every night after dc are in bed. At weekends she works half a day and in the holidays she goes into school one full day every week as well as working at home. She teaches in an Ofsted 'excellent' rated department in a secondary school so also has some 'free' periods to work in. When there is a parents evening she works much later of course.
It is still the best possible job for a mum though you will need some flexible childcare while the children are young.

" in a 9-5 job at least you are then done for the day (generally)."
Don't agree with this at all, sorry. Professional jobs anyway.

Am reading this and feeling a bit soorwhenduve as am starting PGDE in August. Have 3DC aged 9,4,6 but fortunately DP is self employed so can do school runs and I have family nearby to cover illness.

All my family are teachers: mum, dad, sister, gran, MIL, SIL ( although she chucked it in) and I am under no illusions about workload.

Re family time: I currently work for NHS in a call centre, it involves nightshifts, working 5 weekends in 8, Xmas day, at Easter I am on two 9hr backshifts followed immediately by 3X nightshift. I do miss out on a lot of time with my children and we desperately need more money, a proper income and pension - I know this seems pedestrian but it's the reality I'm afraid.

I had a stressful career pre-DC and can settle fir a busy day, come home and couple of hrs work a night - teaching is a well paid profession so you would expect to be working outwith officially sanctioned hrs.

' Apprehensive' my phone appears to be spellchecking in Swahili!

Agree with SPB

Am sure there are low stress 9-5 jobs out there somewhere - probably paying about £15k p.a which is barely enough to cover full time childcare for a baby plus wrap around care for a school age child. Any reasonably paid job is likely to spill over into home life unfortunately.
I still maintain that teaching - particularly primary- is probably one of the most family friendly professions when compared to other similarly paid jobs. Lessons finish at 3 or 3.30 so that gives at least two hours to do some marking and the rest at home after DCs in bed, and 13 weeks leave a year.
Btw I'm not just a casual observer - FIL, SIL, BIL, 2 uncles and 1 aunt are all teachers including DHT, HT and 2 HOD.

No, ceeveebee that does not give two hours marking, it means setting up for the next day, writing, planning, photocopying, IEPs, etc, etc, et fecking c, THEN you get to mark. That's if you haven't had to hold a detention or attend meeting/s.

You think primary is such a treat? Having taught 30+ years in secondary, I'd rather poke my eyes out then tread the mill of primary. You offer no specific comparisons with other professions - so go ahead, why don't you?

But can I ask..

I get a little excited feeling when I think about teaching English/media/psychology / I think about the many ways I could teach these subjects, how to get concepts across, engage children and when I think of teaching I feel enthusiastic and positive, am I naive?

Do any of you enjoy your job?

Yes, I feel passionate about what I do, started a thread about it fairly recently actually.

here it is

Lovely to hear a teacher saying the same :)

Completely agree about the "little thrill" feeling. I've had jobs I've hated and jobs I've enjoyed. But this is the only one I'm actually completely satisfied with. I have no desire to do anything different. I am only 14m in, that may change I suppose.

Ah but I am not yet a teacher
But I know many working mothers who enjoy their jobs but none find the work/life balance easy. It's good to hear from women who are happy in their work

echt
OK. Lets ignore Lawyers and Doctors as they earn a lot more than teachers

Accountant - similar starting salary to a teacher - working 50 hour weeks the norm and at peak times of the month/year staying until midnight - sent to clients in the back end of nowhere at a minutes notice - studying for professional qualification whilst working - 4 weeks leave plus bank holidays - not exactly family friendly?

Nurse - 12 hour shifts - shift patterns change at short notice leaving childcare impossibly expensive -4 weeks leave plus bank holidays - not exactly family friendly

Social worker - incredibly stressful job - huge caseload - unpleasant working conditions - travelling around all dayat short notice - -4 weeks leave plus bank holidays - not exactly family friendly

Shall I go on?

as a lawyer I always earned the same as my teacher husband. Don't assume all solicitors are well paid. So you may use solicitor as your comparison too!

Funny - sorry for the assumption, I was just pre-empting any comments about lowly paid teachers

Which would you say was the most conducive to family life - a career in law or a career in teaching?

I would say a career in teaching is generally better suited to family life, but it does depend what type of law job you do. My old job was very long hours, sometimes round the clock and that would not have been compatible at all.

I know teachers find the non stop 'childcare' an issue and am currently having a row with DH about the very issue. If you both work yes teaching and office job is a very good combo, but there are still HUGE stresses in terms of the work/life balance.

Please don't assume all Doctors earn a bucket load either. In the 5-9 years post qualification our wages aren't much considering the hours we work.

NOONE WORKS 9-5

end of

It depends very much on you and how you play it. I've been teaching for 14 years, and my DTDs are 6. DH is not a teacher, though that wasn't relevant when I started as we weren't together. When I had the twins, I took maternity leave and then left my job for a bit as I didn't enjoy being part time. I went back when the twins started school and so far, it's been fine. They go to breakfast and after school club, but they love it, and they'd have to do that no matter what my job was. I drop them off at 8, get to school for about 8.15 and generally pick them up between 4 and 4.30. One of the good things about teaching is that there is some level of flexibility- I leave on the bell on Fridays so that I can pick them up from their classroom. The things that make it work for us are:

1. DH is incredibly supportive- I think it helps that I was a teacher when we met, so he's always been aware of the necessary work in the evenings, the fact that I can't hold a conversation about anything else during school play week (drama teacher) and that I will need to go to parents evenings/open evening/school trips etc and that I can't rearrange them. Dsis has recently qualified as a teacher and her DH still can't get his head round this- he is used to her being able to rearrange meetings etc if they don't fit in to his plans.
2. Being organised. My evening stuff, INSET days and so on go on the calendar in September. I know that plenty of jobs involve this kind of thing, and imagine that being organised is key in many cases!
3. I get my own kids involved with my work stuff- we had weekend rehearsals for our school play before half term, and I took my kids along to "help" which they loved AND I got to spend time with them.
4. Friday evenings and Saturdays are strictly no work days for either of us.

None of that is exclusive to teaching though! If you want to train as a teacher, OP, then do it. Plenty of my colleagues have kids, and we all manage it. My own parents were teachers and I don't remember feeling abandoned or upset that they didn't come to class assemblies. I haven't missed a Christmas play since my two started school, and I have always explained why I can't go to other school things and they're fine with that.

I love my job, and yes, the holidays help. I would say it's as family friendly as any full time job. My kids see more of me than they do of DH in an average week.

FromParis - my husband works 9.30 - 3.00. He does not ever ever bring work home, stay late or go in early.

(he doesn't get paid a huge amount of money though!)

When I had an office job I never did any extra work, unless it was optional paid overtime. I was bored out of my skull though.

I teach secondary and have two little ones, one nearly 3 and one 6 months.

I love the holidays, absolutely the best thing about teaching. Term time is hard though. I leave for work about 7.30 and finish about 5 unless there are meetings which re til 5.30 or parents evenings which can last till 7.30. I can sometimes leave at 4 to get kids providing that I do a couple of hours work when they have gone to bed.

I find that my weekends are spent working but I have to try and have at least one day out with the family, I try to keep up with marking etc so that I can have the holidays as family time.

I love my job, it's not ideal for childcare, but is more suited than say a nurse say who has to do 12 hour shifts. You just muddle through Like everyone else does!

Back to the original post!

OP - if you want to teach then go for it. Your PCGE and NCT years will be bloody hard. You will be knackered and stressed. However teaching does get a little easier after that. Although the hours are long during term time I personally believe that it is worth it for the holidays and the fact that I LOVE being with a class of students teaching what I have a real passion for. My head has been very good with giving me time to be with my son in hospital but that is a boss thing - some are more generous than others in whatever profession.

So just ignore most of the comments on here. Teachers and other professionals arguing over who has it worse. The people who have it worse are those that don't enjoy their job. If you spend a lot of time working make sure it is something you love. Don't spend the rest of your life regretting something you never did.

from

"A very hard working, very tired, and generally happy secondary teacher, HoD and mum of 2 (one with health issues)"

I think as an NQT and in the first few years of teaching, it does take up hours and hours of home time. It does get quicker and easier though. Saying that, many of the fantastic teachers I know still spend evenings and weekends working.

Also that first week of every holiday is spent exhausted and in recovery.

Thanks again for your replies. Does anyone know if I'd be at a disadvantage if I did my PGCE in a few years time instead of directly after graduation? I have no help from family etc and think I'd struggle while DD is so young.

I did pgce 4 years after graduation, it was fine.