any other teachers-how do you manage it?

[kirstygem]

I started back at a new school full time in Jan. My DD is 9 months old and now goes to nursery fulltime. Decided to go back to work after a great 9 months at home with DD, financially not working with me staying at home.
Just finding it a real struggle to balance full time work with missing DD, housework and the schoolwork I have to do at home.
I leave school as soon as bell goes so I can have a couple of hours with DD. then have tea, put on a washing etc and then sit down to do minimum of 2 hours schoolwork. Never have anytime for myself and spend weekends trying to clean house and have time with DD. I know its the same for all working mums but think I could probably just about cope if didnt have all the marking, planning etc to do at nights . Parents nights and meetings after school just make it worse and my DH is not exactly helpful round the house.

Suppose I could leave DD at nursery bit later but then she does go to bed at 6pm (loves her sleep) so if dont get her til 5 then only really get an hour with her. For my own sanity in relation to getting through the work think i maybe going to have to start doing this at least a couple days a week. I just miss her so much but she is actually having a ball at nursery and doesnt know if its 4pm or 5pm.
DebtheScot - I know what you mean about reports looming I have 160 Year 8 reports to write next month . Are you actually a Scot? I am a Scot living in Norfolk. Dong any schoolwork at weekend really pisses me off but its impossible not to.

Don't you have a computerised reporting system? 160 reports in a huge amount!

I am a Scot yes. I live in Hampshire though.
We have computerised reports, have just implamented a new Sims system though which is apparantly meant to make life easier but noone has told me how to use it which isn't very helpful.

Thankfully I timed going back to work well. They are in the process of writing reports now and then there's just one more lot to do in June.
I also have the advantage of teaching a lot of double lessons so don't have that many different classes tyhis year.

What subjects do you all teach? I teach Physics in an 11-16 comp

I was ft senco before had dd. I returned after 7mths and have been doing 4 days. I do dedicate day off for dd and sod the houswork. It is v hard to balance everything. Feel like I am constantly rushing somewhere. And all our p eve are on a Thurs which is my day off. Bummer!! I feel I am doing way too much school work once dd has gone too bed just so I can just keep my head above water. Have been asked to go back 5 days from Sept. Felt ok to say yes as dd v happy at nursery, but have told boss that it will be strictly 8.00am to 3.30pm then out the door and time with dd. I will have couple of hours with dd and that is my trade off for giving up the day off. DH may have day off for dd, housely duties etc. Can yours? Would he want to? After reading this, I have also just told dh that we will get a cleaner from Sept as will have bit more money and will be a great help.

i hope you feel better about things. Teaching is tough without a baby, let alone with one. All us teaching mothers are seriously tough people!!!!

Loads of good ideas here for you to try. Another thing I do courtesy of mn is plan all our meals for the month, and if possible get them ready the night before so there's no faffing about when I get in. It seems really anal(and I got well slagged in the staff room, but they know what I'm like by now) bt it saves time, and helps with shopping too.

Can we keep this thread going, or start another "teacher" thread. I'd like to have it here to have support from people who understand when I need it.

So pleased I started this thread as don't think non teachers can ever really understand of appreciate how hard we work and the amount you have to do outside "office hours". have been lots good ideas on here and have actually just found it helpful to feel that there are other people in same boat as me.
I teach RE.
Deb where you from in Scotland. I from Lockerbie but live in Norfolk now. Lived in Bordon in Hampshire before was here.
Sammac I do the meal planning too. My friends without kids think i am a total freak

Oh you poor thing. I'm a SAHM but go back in occasionally to do supply cover when they're stuck. So far it has been just mornings or just the occasional one off day, but last week I did 4 full days 8am - 6pm. It was absolute hell. The teaching was esy and I really enjoyed it, but I felt so bad waking dd to take her to nursery, and then collecting her and putting her straight into the bath and bed routine. The house is also a complete bomb site as no washing of plates or clothes got done. The dogs didn't get walked (thank god for a big garden). In fact no housework at all got done so I'm now on catch up.

The positive outcome is that dh and I have realised that when I do eventually go back to work we will have to hve some extra help around the house.

All you teacher who work full time are amazing, I couldn't do it.

I went back to teaching when my first was 10 months. I loved the buzz of being back at work but really couldn't cope and asked to go to 3 days by half term. I also thought I had to work full time but it's amazing how you adapt to less money. Looking back I could have made it easier by sending out my ironing and having a cleaner and that I could have justified the money because I was bringing it in and that paying for help meant that I could cope with working. I gave up completely with my second so we've really no money now but I do know that when I do go back I won't be breaking my back trying to do 2 jobs. I hope I don't offend but I think your DH's attitude stinks. A friend bought me the book How to Babyproof your Marriage. I would reccomend it to you as it raises some interesting points about sharing the house work and might help you to negotiate this with your dh, similar to what many of the earlier posts have suggested.

Have had good long chat with DH and he promises to pull his weight more. Followed advice and gave him specific jobs eg ironing rather than just thinking he could realise that things need done in general. that seems to be beyond him for now!
Counting down to the Easter holidays now, although will have to do some schoolwork. How is everyone else coping at the moment?

Oh God, I'm going back in May.....this thread is terrifying me....

me too fizzbuzz!
i'm going back fulltime after easter, dd will be nearly 8 months old. I've already done a few days supply but am dreading going back for real. i've lost my second in dept points so will be a mainscale teacher so hopefully less work to take home. will start getting DH more housework sooner rather than later so it doesnt come as such a shock!!

my plan is to get them to mark each other's homework the next lesson and to make sure i work in any frees i get rather than fannying around chatting and tidying like i usd to!!

Woohoo, only 1 more day of teaching then holidays! PLus 1 day of academic mentoring (that I don't have to do as I haven't been back long enough to be able to say anything useful) and 1 day of moderation. Borrrriingg