to say I am a teacher when in reality I am a housewife

[Cathpot]

I often wander into threads on here and say I am a teacher. But I'm not. I was a teacher, until I had my first child 4 years ago and stopped work to be a SAHM. Realistically it will be another 2 years before I am back in a classroom.

So technically, right now, I am not a teacher. I have been one, I will be one again, but right now..

I ...am ..a ..housewife.

I find it very difficult to say this.

I love teaching, I am looking forward to going back, I still frequently think about it and witter on about it. When people ask me 'what do you do' I say 'I'm a teacher- I'm taking time out while the kids are small'. I find it hugely disconcerting that at the moment I am not able to sign the back of a friend's passport photo as I dont have a profession. I didnt envisage having this much time out before I had children (although I am happy with the decision now they are here) and I suppose as the years roll on I am finding it more difficult to know what I should call myself.

I suppose my basic question is, do any of you define yourself by your trained profession even if you are not doing it right now?

I just recently returned to teaching after a few years out. During that time I always described myself as a teacher on a career break. I never liked the stay-at-home-mum title as it didn't really describe what I did: I was never really 'at 'home' all the time.

So YANBU

i still sign passports off
I haven't taught for 8 years

Cathpot - to be honest the gigolo comment was borne out of sheer frustration. I just got so sick and tired of being defined by 'what I did' rather than 'who I am' that I just felt like making up something up that was really stupid up.

Definitley go for it - you should make something up that is intriguing that no one could really check out but you know quite a lot about. Private investigator is a good one or perhaps undercover restaurant critic.

Come to think of it, I used to work at McDonalds. Maybe I should call myself a Crew Member (yes, that is what they are called...), and let people draw their own conclusions.

Actually, what I like about being a parent is that it is a great "leveller". I doesn't matter too much what you do or did before, and you get to meet people who you might not have done.

ABetaDad