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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

Any other teachers find staying on top of housework hard?

80 replies

Handbaghag · 29/10/2016 14:24

Especially at holidays like the one just gone, I struggle to rest and not berate myself with a home 'to do' list. I find it hard to stay on top of the housework most of the time and although bathrooms and kitchen are hygienic etc, dust can build up sometimes and I never clean windows! The decoration in some rooms could do with redoing but I never feel I've done enough. I put such pressure on myself.. Even after 20 years in teaching.. You'd have thought I'd have twigged by now that I can't stay fully on top of it... In a working week I'm too knackered after getting in at 6.15 every evening. My role models in this arena are my mum who only ever worked part time and my best mate who also works part time. Both can afford decorators etc. Any other teachers feel this sense of lack of control over the house? I do try and split the number of rooms with my husband but he isn't as regular and fussy as me. My children and husband are loved, fed, clean and we all have a good relationship but I feel very crap about myself in the household arena.

OP posts:

Mistoffelees · 30/10/2016 12:31

Sorry that should have been directed at nephrofox as well.

MissMillament · 30/10/2016 12:37

Could I just point out to those who haven't noticed that this was posted in The Staffroom which is why it is particularly directed at teachers, not because we are special snowflakes.

I really struggle with this too - I have three children and leave the house at 7.15, get back home at 7pm and usually work most of Sunday, so once have done the basic food shop, laundry for the week and sorting out the kids, I tend to get by in term time with just basic cleaning of kitchen and bathroom. DH does long hours too (not a teacher) and he takes responsibility for hoovering and ironing and then we blitz in half-term and holiday. I've never had a cleaner but I am actively considering it as the house is just depressing me at the moment.

Horseseeker2016 · 30/10/2016 12:41

I also often work in evenings and weekends, as does my DH. We are not teachers.

Yes I know teachers work hard (I have close relatives and friends who teach) but so do people in lots of other professions.

During the working week I can easily put in 60 hours (plus over 15 hours commuting). And I only get 25 days per year annual leave so no school holidays to catch up.

I fully appreciate teaching is a hectic and stressful profession at the moment due to workloads but so are lots of professions.

Also just realised this thread is in the Staffroom (it popped up in my Active conversations) so I'll leave the thread as it's aimed at teachers specifically. Didn't mean to cause any offence.

Mistoffelees · 30/10/2016 12:43

MissMillament, I am in constant awe and wonder of teachers who have children. We don't yet but have talked about what we'll do when we have a family, current thoughts are for DH to go part time as I earn more than him but when it comes to it I think I'll probably feel differently!

MissMillament · 30/10/2016 12:47

Thank you Horsemad.

Can I just point out that teachers know very well that we are not the only profession that habitually work 60 hour weeks. I don't think anyone has claimed otherwise, but it seems like a teacher has only got to mention their working hours on MN for people to get pissy with us. It's not a competition.

MissMillament · 30/10/2016 12:50

Depends on the school, Mistoffelees and what they allow, but I reckon if DH were also a teacher I would consider looking at both of us going 0.8 when chn were little assuming that would allow you to keep TLRs etc rather than one going - in secondary at least it is much easier to get 0.8 than 0.6 and still keep a decent timetable. But schools vary a lot in what works and primary and secondary vary a good bit too.

noblegiraffe · 30/10/2016 19:45

My house is a state, not helped by having young children so even in half term I can't get on top of it.

I'd love to get a cleaner, but the house isn't in a state where I'd want a cleaner near it - too many cluttered surfaces, but no energy to actually clear the clutter so a cleaner could clean it.

Sleeperandthespindle · 30/10/2016 19:59

We seem to have spent all week organising and tidying our house. DH isn't a teacher but had the week off. We moved last Christmas and haven't fully unpacked yet! Pleased with what we've managed this week though and should be easier for the cleaner to actually clean.

Can't manage anything in the week and just cope with laundry pile at weekends.

Karlakitten1 · 30/10/2016 20:08

It is very hard to stay on top of it all, I get quite anxious about it and it sometimes really gets to me. I've just gone back to work after mat leave and am finding the work/housework/life balance very difficult. I have to sometimes think that there are more important things than a little bit of dust. Having a cordless vac has helped me stay on top of hooverinf though...so much quicker. And for quick dusting I use the fluffy dusters you can get in the supermarket that are on a stick..they really are quick. A friend recommended them to me and I have used them ever since. My DH reminds me all the time that it doesnt really matter and "did anyone die from not hoovering or dusting?"...the answer is NO of course!

Naveloranges · 30/10/2016 22:53

I think it's difficult for anyone working full time. However this thread is located in the education section named 'staffroom' hence why teachers have commented.
Perhaps teachers don't feel that other professions respect or recognise the work they do? Or maybe getting home at 1830 isn't late, but it depends on how much work is still left to do?
It's disheartening how little we all seem to appreciate what others do.,

rollonthesummer · 31/10/2016 07:24

I think that's the issue-the volume of extra work that's done in the evening after you've got home at 6.30. That's when my non-teacher friends get their housework done.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 31/10/2016 07:41

Feel I should be amazed but am not really surprised at all that even in the one specific area of MN where teachers should have space to talk about life as a teacher, we get all the non-teachers piling in to tell us how we don't really work that hard at all, y'know.

It's not The Four Yorkshiremen sketch, Horseseeker2016. Just a thread in the TEACHERS' area of MN directing a question specifically to TEACHERS.

elephantoverthehill · 31/10/2016 20:01

I am a full time teacher, SM with 2 DCs still at home. I have a cleaner and a window cleaner. DCs are now secondary age and use the washing machine, tumble drier and dishwasher, they unpack the groceries for me only to check if I have bought any treats . My house badly needs redecorating and a deep clean but hey ho you can't have everything. With the way the school has been over the last 5 years my main drive is to keep my job and provide for my DCs, somethings have to give.

echt · 31/10/2016 20:05

When I lived in the UK, and DD was younger, having an au pair solved a lot of the housework problems. They washed dishes, hoovered downstairs very day, stair carpets once week and, blissfully all the ironing.

Happy days.

The we moved to Australia and DD was too old for an au pair, I really felt the pain, particularly the bogging ironing. Was never quite bad enough to get a cleaner, but then the prep/mark load is not at the insane level as in the UK.

MrsNuckyThompson · 31/10/2016 20:10

So interesting mistofolees as that's exactly what I was about to say. I really really don't get why teachers are any different to any other profession. Plus you work a max of 6-8 weeks in a row and have at least a week off! I just don't understand how that is irrelevant.

Many other people in countless other professions work longer hours in higher pressure environments and, no, we don't get HALF the leave you do in a year. I just don't understand why you think that amount of time off to rest, recover and spend time with your kids is somehow irrelevant!

I'm donning my flame retardant PJs now.

Mistoffelees · 31/10/2016 20:20

It's not irrelevant and I don't think anyone said it was, it's just a matter of fact that my house is only thoroughly cleaned by me at half terms and holidays and by the end of the last half term, which was 8 weeks by the way, the summer holidays were a dim and distant past and I was ill for the majority of the holiday as I'd been fighting it for the whole last week but taking a day off is pointless as the holiday was so close.

Original poster

Handbaghag · 31/10/2016 20:21

Thanks to those who posted helpful comments. Getting it all done seems a common difficulty.

OP posts:

noblegiraffe · 31/10/2016 20:26

I really really don't get why teachers are any different to any other profession.

So you'd be best off staying out of the staffroom?

blackhairbrush · 31/10/2016 20:33

I came too teaching after 10 years in another career - it is hard to explain how much more tiring it is. I think it is something to do with having to "perform" for 5-6 hours, having to constantly think on your feet and to provide for 30 individuals who have different needs and who may not want to co-operate. Couple that with inadequate management who pass the pressure down and have unrealistic expectations about paperwork that is of no benefit to the children but is about "proving" that you are doing what you would do anyway. It is exhausting in a way that my other career wasn't.

wowbutter · 31/10/2016 20:38

I work with a lot of teachers, professionally, and I do think they work harder than other people.
Other progressions get Mor money, respect and not as much pressure.
Teachers have it tough, I could never be one and I have such respect for them.

blackhairbrush · 31/10/2016 20:42

too = to

MissMillament · 31/10/2016 20:46

It's half past eight. I was in school by 7.30 this morning and left at 6.30. I still have a couple of hours work to do before I go to bed. And I worked three full days over half-term. I work about half of every holiday and half term (except for summer when I take four weeks off). I worked out that over the past year I did double the 1265 hours I am actually paid to work. I GET that other people work those hours too. Where has any teacher on MN ever said any different? But I think we should be allowed to post on a thread for OTHER TEACHERS in the STAFFROOM without people sneering that we think that working 60 hours a week, week in, week out makes us special snowflakes.

Feenie · 31/10/2016 22:32

Oh piss off.

Mistoffelees · 31/10/2016 22:36

Haha, well said Feenie!

Kreeshsheesh · 31/10/2016 22:41

Hey teacher haters, guess what? I love my holidays! I also love being a teacher! I'll give you the address of the local teacher training institute if you'd like to join us? Oh sorry you don't want to? Well stop bleating about our holidays and fottosof!!

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