really feel like i can't do my last week at work!!! help!

[mooms]

I am a primary school teacher and am currently 36+4 wks.

I've been on Easter hols for past 2 wks but have spent the majority of the time off getting end of yr reports done and various assessments to hand over to person covering my class. Added to that, due to crappy year long delays by insurance company, we've had major renovation work done to the house in the past few wks, lots of upheaval, redecorating, you know the score!
I've had really bad nights sleeps recently and just been generally more and more uncomfortable with last trimester aches, pains and discomfort recently.

I'm due back to work on Tues for the last 4 days before i go off on maternity leave and, after all this upheaval and lack of sleep i really just feel like i can't do it!! i don't want the physical tiredness of going up and down stairs, the phsyical tiredness that just goes with controlling 30 kids all day, the mental tiredness of trying to get last bits ready for me going off... i just want to get the last house bits sorted and actually start to focus on my impending arrival and rest!!

any tips ladies on how to drag my waddling self through the last wk?! particularly if you're a teacher and have been there!

i am well aware that i sound like a moaning, whinging cowbag in this post, my apologies, blame the sleep deprivation and all round general annoyedness with feeling a lot less capable than i normally am!

I'm a secondary teacher which I think in some ways is easier than primary e.g. I can spend the whole lesson sitting if need be! But I sympathise with the sheer emotional energy it takes to get through the day - I'm 25+2 and feeling the strain already.

I would just say make life easy for yourself. Do lots of seated activities, things the kids can peer assess, self-directed worksheets etc. It might not be what you would normally do or the optimum thing for the class but remember they're getting someone fresh the week after who will have the time and energy to do the all-singing all-dancing stuff with them. Do what it takes to get through the day. Do you have a TA who will take some jobs off your hands for this week only? I'm sure they wouldn't mind - or do you have friendly colleagues who might, just for this week, do some team-teaching or take a small group out during their PPA (not sure how this works in primary!). Do you have bossy kids who will take charge of things for you (I have some y7s who will run activities for me and see it as a real treat to be 'teacher' for five minutes while I rest a little).

I know I hate asking for help and feeling like a burden but my colleagues would be happy to help me any time I asked; a lot of the time they want to help and I'm sure won't like to see your struggle.

I'm also a secondary teacher and I would do one of two things:

1. Speak to your head; I assume they have appointed your maternity cover? Can they start a week earlier whilst you work outside the classroom? It's a perfectly reasonable request, and TBH I am staggered that they haven't offered that as an option which would have allowed the cover teacher to take the class straight after Easter.

1. Begin your maternity leave a week early. It makes little difference at the other end anyway.

I did no.2

I am a primary teacher and went on maternity early with my two sons, both times I went back after a holiday and realised that during the holiday, I had got bigger and was more tired, and more used to being able to take it easy. A few days won't make a difference to the children, nor much to your maternity pay. Do you not have the bank holidays off anyway??

If you do stay, do lots of wedding related things, something new/different will hold their attention, therefore making it easier for you!! Good luck

Ps I am currently 37 weeks, finished for mat leave before easter with my third. Feel much better now!!

Not a teacher, but OFSTED turned up at my last week of work when PG with DD, when I was also rushing to get my last bit of cw in for qualification done... I had a panic attack on the bus on the way to work and my boss very kindly let me switch to just afternoons for the last week.

Worth a word to see if they might be sympathetic to a change of plans IMO!

thanks ladies, just nice to hear a bit of reassurance that i'm not being a wus! can i ask to start a wk earlier? always assumed i had to give more notice?

Technically, you go off sick; but any pregnancy-related illness which occurs within four weeks of your due date automatically starts your maternity leave.