Careers and young children

[Zola78]

I'm really struggling at the moment. I have two young childre (2 1/2 and 1) and I am also pregnant (only 7 weeks but I am hoping all goes well). I am currently trying to complete my PGCE the qualification needed to be a teacher but I am sinking fast. I can't keep up with the work because I'm tired (the baby has been up in the night) and unmotivated. But I'm sooo worried about what I'm going to be qualified to do once the children are older.

I want to be a good mum to the boys and the one on the way but I'm scared that once they have grown up I'll be qualified for nothing. I could drop out of the course now and re - apply at a later date but I'm not sure I will. In my heart I want to drop out but am really feeling the pressure from friends and family.
What should I do? What would you do?

There's no point in making yourself ill and stressed, especially now you are pregnant.
Follow your heart - you can go back to training in a few years.

Thank you HumphreyCushion

What do you do HC?

I started the coure in January 2007. So I'm just starting. I have my BSc degree but these days and in approx 6 years time (when 3 dc at school) it will probably mean nothing.

But what is strange is I think I have made peace with the fact that in 6 - 7 years time I'm gonna have to start all over again but I don't think that my mum has and other family members.

I think that I am expecting too much of myself. I want to enjoy my children. I will study one day. Sounds good but why can't I just quit the course?

You could become a teaching assistant in the future? I've been looking into more child friendly careers. Its possible to do traing through a school, perhaps while dcs are at preschool or school and become teaching assistant, obviously not as much money as teaching - nat as much stress and marking either though, but you can progress and then train to be a teacher whilst working as a teaching assistant. Sounds like you've got enough on at the moment and need to look after yourself and do whats right for you.

You will be qualified to be a great Mum and in my book that is the greatest acheivement you can get.

Loads of time, when the kids get into school to swot up in your time and not in theirs. Where on earth is the emergency?

I've just put the boys down for a nap and am completely shattered. I don't know what the rush is. I just feel that I should be preparing for when they final all go to school. I know it's irrational but..... I don't know

Have you thought about starting your own business? You gain all kinds of odd skills being a mum. Then you can do something that suits the times you need to be at home. And even if it is just a stop gap till you get back to training its something to be proud of and fill the cv.

Can your Mum, and all these people who think you should be doing the course, help out more with your kids? (That's assuming you want them to, of course!) You can't do it all. I'm a working mum, but that means that I need a LOT of help from friends, family, and paid help. I wouldn't be able to work without a team of people helping me. There's no such thing as superwoman. And I have to say I wouldn't work unless I absolutely loved it (I really do), and unless it paid very well. Otherwise there's just no point, you can't spend your life doing what other people think you ought to do.