Being a mum and working full time

[pinkyponkyplink]

I’m going full time after Easter. I need to financially but I’m so sad about not being able to do the school run and feeling completely exhausted so I had no time for my own children. Any tips? It’s only until the summer.

Went back full-time in September. You don't mention if you have a partner. I leave at 7/7:30am every morning and DH works from home, so he does the school run. We had intended that I leave at 4pm, but this just doesn't happen. I'm back by 6:30/7pm apart from Thursdays when I can get home at 4pm. If I left at 4pm every day, I'd need to find those extra couple of hours in the evening, but I found it more exhausting than the longer day. I get home to read, brush teeth, put the 3yo to bed, stay up and read, watch a bit of TV with 8yo. I don't work at all on the weekends.

If I had it my way, I'd be out the door at 7am, school at 7:30, then leave at 3:30, home at 4pm. Reality (as we know) is very different though!

My partner works long hours so my little ones are going to the childminder. I feel so guilty

It's really tough, especially when they're little. I went back 4 days a week after my first and he was at a nursery from 7:45 until 5:45 for 3 months, but I dropped to 0.6 after a term, then actually worked as a HLTA for a few years until I had my second. I've returned to working as a teacher full-time, but I wish I could work shorter hours.

What's the shortest day you think you could do? Have you got all your lesson plans from teaching previously? That makes a big difference. I started a new job and had a few years out, so my lesson planning is taking longer this year.

I’m just so sad that it doesn’t work around school pick up or drop off time.

I work full time. I went from 4-5 days a year ago. Never take work home in evenings or weekends (apart from report writing). I get to work at 7.50 and leave between 4-4.30 every day. It’s doable. I’m in a private school though so get 20% ppa each week.

Look after yourself and lower standards to make things manageable. Sometimes, done is good enough.

I’m a huge perfectionist and take great pride in my usually show stopping exercise books, marking and outstanding lessons. My body put this on shutdown when I had a mental health breakdown after maternity leave. I now leave about 20 mins after the kids at school, am back by 4pm on non meeting days and delivering the system lessons rather than what I’ve done from years which was building everything bespoke to my teaching style.

The kids are no different at work with me for these changes but I have more capacity for my own children and my mental health.

I’ve also (naughtily) given up reading endless department and staff bulletins. I’ve never been one to miss a deadline and usually always meticulously read these. I’ve found someone will always mention in passing when things need doing! Again, a sanity saver as it shaves a good chunk of time each week.