Quitting after one term

[Eachpeachporch]

I returned to teaching (three days a week) a few weeks ago after a five year break. My youngest is 17 months and to be honest I'm finding it really hard to juggle family life and the job. It doesn't help that he's a rubbish sleeper. Yesterday it was really hard to teach a whole day on four hours of broken sleep. I can't help shake the feeling that I've gone back too soon. Financially, living simply we can get by on my husband's salary and my previous job (just seven hours a week) has been kept for me so I could go back to it (they agreed to a year of unpaid leave).

My question is, how bad will it look on my CV that I left after only a term? I'd like to return to teaching again in the future, but once my youngest has started school in three years' time. Honest opinions would be appreciated.

It would be fine.

I had an awful first term when I went back after mat leave- regularly doing it on 4 hours sleep. It got better once I was back in the swing - it's still early doors. My child was a shit sleeper for years, so if I'd waited, I'd only have gone back this year (she's 6!)

The problem is, it might not be any easier once they go to school.

I actually ended up taking a break for a while once they started school due to all the activities they were doing every evening - and I discouraged them as much as I could from doing too many! My older DD is 15 and still does loads of sport most nights to a fairly high level, so even now there's a lot of running around after school.

I don't know what the answer is really - I've been there and it was truly awful, and in hindsight I wished I'd left after 1 term, but I battled on for a year and half before I did leave. But the school and my immediate boss were awful.

I suppose there are 2 options - hand in your notice OR make a big push to get help for your lack of sleep and lack of time - so get your DH to do the sleepless nights for half the week, and/or throw money at it and put them in to nursery for an extra day, so you can either sleep or catch up on work - even if on paper it seems like you're working for no money, you have to factor in being able to get a job in the future, and the fact that it won't look brilliant on your CV if you left after 1 term. It also depends on what you teach, whether there's a shortage (I teach a shortage subject, so doesn't really matter how bad my CV looks).

When I eventually went back, I did supply for a year, to test the waters, and see what hours I could cope with.

Thanks ohthegoats and astuz for replying. Helpful, reassuring and with some realism too! I think I will leave. This is a big deal for me because I don't like failing at things or letting people down. But for a change I'm not going to be a people pleaser and hand in my notice because I think it's the right thing for now.

I honestly think it’s fine, particularly this term so many staff will be leaving due to COVID pressures - they might have family at home they’re not prepared to put at risk, Grandparents might usually do childcare but now they can’t - so many I think will be changing professions or how they work, I honestly don’t think it will look unusual. But also think of your sanity - if this isn’t working for you, change it, don’t wait until you’re past your break point 💐

If you decide to leave, would you have to mention this period of employment on a future CV/application?

Good luck with what you decide. I work as a TA at the moment. I don't know how teachers do it! X