To miss my teacher holidays

[Backinthedayeh]

Sort of inspired by a thread I’ve just read (that rhymes 😂)
I taught in a school for many many years and had around 9/10 blissful weeks off in the summer…fully paid! It was pure heaven.
I now have a different job working year round, normal hours and it’s so hard to adapt and be working full days in sweltering heat (live abroad) when it’s almost ingrained in me that summer is for messing about and no responsibilities..
Anyway…sigh

Aibu to miss them?

Nah. I love being able to take my holidays whenever I want to. The co-worker I cover for, still has a kid at home and she can only go away in the school holidays and it costs her a packet.

I used to hate having the long break, especially when my own were little. Used to drag forever.

I miss them too!

I am actually reliving them now though on mat leave with a 6mo so although I'm busy I get to be out in the sunshine every day doing picnics and nice lunches. Have a baby op 😂

@Unexpectedlysinglemum 😂

I'm not a teacher basher but the holidays must surely outweigh some of the bad points they complain about.

I miss them a lot, but I'm still glad I'm not teaching.

@Harryyourenogoodalone They were amazing! I loved the kids and many aspects of the job (wouldn’t do full class teaching in my life again though, so that says something) but the holidays were such a perk of the job.

Holidays aren't paid, apart from 4-5 weeks like most people get. The rest is unpaid. Our wages get split across the year so we still have money through August.
Unless this is someone in another country, this is a goady thread.

Just finished week 1 of 6. My kids have left home so I can spend all day reading building up my pension.

31 years service

@Mookie81 Not a goady thread, live abroad (as I said in opening post)
Was paid full pay for all holidays, pay crap though, equivalent of around £16, 000 per year. Job was all consuming, just became my whole life, amazing in parts, but v intense.
I just miss those lovely holidays

9/10 weeks ??????

Yeah the do. I reckon without the holidays most of us would leave.

@dootball I know, it was incredible. I had no dc then either, it was like being a child/student every holidays 😂

I’m 26 days into my summer holidays and still have 35 days left. It’s bliss. I went to Cornwall for a long weekend at the beginning. Have been pootling at home, swimming, reading and seeing friends. Around A level results day schools intrudes into my thoughts a little more but I love it and will be ready to go back come September.

@Notellinganyone So lovely, enjoy

I remember fondly that feeling of utter relief and freedom at the start of the 6 weeks holiday. 6 weeks of having a life!

Im not in teaching now, don’t get the school holidays, but I have a life all year round, even when I’m working. I would not go back.

@Birdienumnumm That last day, was incredible, sad parting with the children, but lovely gifts and knowing a rest was ahead

I miss the holidays but do not miss teaching but do like the flexibility of being able to book holidays when I want.

I'm probably going to leave teaching in the next couple of years.
The 6 week holidays are nice in theory, but in reality they're too long and quite boring.

I'm not looking forward to juggling the holidays once I do leave and I'm not looking forward to losing that pension, but on 2 days a week I'm not contributing much anyway, and I can't face doing any more than that without losing my life and my sanity.

Presumably between summer, Christmas, Easter and half term. It all adds up! Here in NI the summer holidays alone are close to 9 weeks.

I remember when teaching that the summer holiday was lovely. Unlike all the other holidays, where I worked some of the time, the summer break was a genuine time off. Apart from coming in for GCSE and A level results and a bit of forward planning at the end. As others have said, teachers aren't paid for most of the other holidays and I can truly say that it's only the summer break which was a real break for me. It was more expensive ..and too hot for or typical sun sand and sea holidays but was genuinely a proper break. I can definitely see why you miss that op. I would too ..but after I retired nothing would induce me to go back ...even the long summer break. Does make you wonder why it's so difficult to retain good teaching staff if the long holidays are such an attraction.

How did you get 9/10 weeks off in the summer?

I have given up teaching so this will be my last summer holidays and I am going to miss it.

But the cons outweigh the pros with teaching and I’m looking forward to being able to afford to go on holiday out of term time.

I feel the holidays are what keep teachers in the job.
The amount of times me and my colleagues have threatened to quit but then you say to yourself it’s only 3 more weeks to the next holiday though and then you come back and a week or 2 later you’re threatening to quit again 🤣

Why don’t you go back into teaching?

Makes them even better since monthly wage is what many people get without 13 weeks holiday….Also if you had in your notice in by May you still get paid until September. Nice.

Not all teachers get Summer off, I'm a full time teacher in FE. My summer holiday is over on Monday when my students are back in. I've had three weeks off, which I'm grateful for.

From the OP:

...and had around 9/10 blissful weeks off in the summer…