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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dread going back to teach

56 replies

Golhaw · 02/09/2023 16:33

Just that! The holidays went by wayyyy too quick this year and I am dreading the start of term on Wednesday 😩
please help me to get into the spirit (somehow!)

OP posts:
mnahmnah · 02/09/2023 19:15

I’ve been teaching 22 years. This is the first time I am actually dreading going back. Usually I feel rested and revived, ready to start a new year with enthusiasm. Not this year. I just don’t have it in me.

Original poster
Golhaw · 02/09/2023 19:54

I feel the sun and glad I’m not the only one!

OP posts:
Original poster
Golhaw · 02/09/2023 19:54

Pain not sun!!!

OP posts:
Covidwoes · 02/09/2023 20:42

This will be my 14th year of teaching, and I'm only still doing it due to being part time! Wouldn't go back to full time in a million years.

UsernameAlreadyTaken101 · 02/09/2023 20:59

FoodFann · 02/09/2023 19:10

Sorry you feel this way OP. I had a corporate career before teaching, working 7am - 7pm, with 5 weeks holiday, in a miserable, masculine, crude, explicit ‘banter’ office culture.
Now I have 13 weeks holiday, work 8am - 3:45 and have lovely, kind, supportive almost all female colleagues.
There are good schools out there. Maybe a change of school could make things more enjoyable.
Good luck this week everyone x

Yes maybe the OP should try another school before giving it up altogether. My school has many issues but generally the staff are supportive and the children well behaved. I hear horror stories from friends in other schools though and I've worked in a few miserable places before I got my current position. The management and ethos of the school can completely change your job.

LegendsBeyond · 02/09/2023 21:12

BorisIsACuntWaffle · 02/09/2023 19:00

What do you do now?

Show quote history

Advisory role for local government.

towriteyoumustlive · 02/09/2023 21:15

I'm looking forward to going back!

As much as I've had fun with my 3 kids, I really miss being able to pee without someone yelling though the door at me!

Apprehension is normal pre September return!

LoveMaths · 02/09/2023 21:24

Can I ask those of you who have left and are happier in a new job what you do now? I want to throw myself into retraining this year but don’t want to get it wrong and am maybe suffering a crisis in confidence. I am starting my 17th year. There are still so many things I love about teaching but feel like I need this to be my last year. I can’t keep telling my own children I can’t do xyz on an evening because I need to work.

Daisy54 · 02/09/2023 21:41

I left teaching 7 years ago and retrained as a Personal Trainer and Pilates Instructor. My teaching skills come in very handy.
I absolutely love my new role.

grafittiartist · 02/09/2023 22:00

I always feel apprehensive at the start of September- I think that's normal.
I really do forget how to do it, but one day in and it's fine!

Singleandproud · 02/09/2023 22:04

I work for a government body and currently supporting a project in a junior project management role.

InsomniacA · 02/09/2023 22:14

ilovesooty · 02/09/2023 16:50

That didn't take long. 🙄

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Off topic, but @ilovesooty, were you on the old TES forums?

LindaCrochet · 02/09/2023 22:17

This reply has been deleted

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fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 02/09/2023 22:21

I can't wait to get out. 1 more year till we can stop paying childcare fees and I can leave! I'm counting down the days...

JaneAustenshandbag · 02/09/2023 22:22

@LindaCrochet perhaps you should teach!
Personally I love teaching but it definitely depends on your school. No one should feel anxious going in to work - life is too short. And that’s got nothing to do with being ‘lazy.’

The holidays are definitely a huge perk for me, but term time is so pressured and I don’t get to choose my holidays or get to go to my own kids’ sports days or plays in the daytime. So you take the rough with the smooth there.

I go back on the 4th. It is hard because it was my little girl’s due date but we lost her, so life goes on.

pepino · 02/09/2023 22:30

BCBird · 02/09/2023 17:03

I been teachin nearli 30 yrs and whilst I'm not dreading it, I'm feeling meh about it all. It the BS abd indiscipline. Like the contact with the kids- mske me smile. Considering earli retirement and a part time job soon.

I hope you're not teaching English!

bellocchild · 02/09/2023 22:30

It can be hard leaving teaching, with long notice periods and uncertainty about the future - but do it anyway! When you write your new CV, emphasise the transferable skills you have acquired: multi-tasking, managing different groups of people, conveying information in an easy, relaxed, comprehensible style, delivering projects in frequently difficult conditions, that sort of thing. Teachers can be seen as bossy loners, so do what you can to come across as a team player.
I signed up with various agencies and did several temp jobs to get back into the workplace, and that helped.

Hawkins0009 · 02/09/2023 22:31

All the best op, and positivity

pepino · 02/09/2023 22:32

Is it more teaching in general or rather the school you're teaching in? Perhaps a change of scenery is what's needed to make your mind up for sure.

sanityisamyth · 02/09/2023 22:33

I did 13 years and it nearly broke me. I spent 4 years back at uni retraining and loving my new career! Never too late for a change.

UsernameAlreadyTaken101 · 02/09/2023 22:58

This reply has been deleted

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If you get less than 3 weeks off your employer is breaking the law! I'm also wondering what kind of job you do where you have days free to patrol school car parks. 😂
Final thought...did you know that teachers don't actually need to be in the school building to be working? There is a lot of admin and preparation that can be done at home and on computers.

Ihaveoflate · 02/09/2023 23:11

I left teaching a few years ago (taught for 14 yrs) and I still get anxiety dreams about being back in the classroom!

I moved into working in higher education and I love it. There's loads of ex teachers in all sorts of roles on my campus. Our skills are recognised and valued. I can certainly recommend it.

TeachFirstQuestionsLater · 02/09/2023 23:18

I haven't slept properly since Wednesday. Hate the going back to work anxiety!!

BorisIsACuntWaffle · 02/09/2023 23:22

LoveMaths · 02/09/2023 21:24

Can I ask those of you who have left and are happier in a new job what you do now? I want to throw myself into retraining this year but don’t want to get it wrong and am maybe suffering a crisis in confidence. I am starting my 17th year. There are still so many things I love about teaching but feel like I need this to be my last year. I can’t keep telling my own children I can’t do xyz on an evening because I need to work.

I'll pm you as outing

BorisIsACuntWaffle · 02/09/2023 23:24

InsomniacA · 02/09/2023 22:14

Off topic, but @ilovesooty, were you on the old TES forums?

Show quote history

I was on tes boards.