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Original poster

I am not sure I should be feeling like this.

24 replies

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:26

I have just been accepted to do a returning to teaching course in the New Year. Instead of being happy, I feel utterly depressed and troubled. I felt this way half way through the interview at the point where the place on the course was offered to me. The minute I got home, I felt a wave of relief at the thought that I had the rest of the day stretching out in front of me with nothing more onerous to do than change the sheets on the bed, post some things sold on ebay and take children swimming after school.

I am not sure I want to return to work. Oh dear.

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sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 12:27

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Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:29

It is full time for 6 weeks. That is quite full on, I realise, and will be a nightmare to manage the logistics of childcare, running the house, etc. Especially as I only want to work a mazimum of 2 days a week once I have finished the course.

But it is not the course I am dreading as much as the whole "going back to work" thing.

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sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 12:31

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Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:35

Well, I guess a gun won't be held to my head if I don't take a teaching job after completing the course, but when asked in the interview if I intended getting a teaching job within 6 months of completing the course, I did say yes The course is free so I am under a certain moral obligation I feel.

I know it must look like I have my hands full enough with 4 children, but actually they are all at school now and I have been bored and frustrated as a full time SAHM for about 5 years! I do need to do something and teaching is easiest for me.

I wouldn't like to back out now.....[DG trembles at thought of having to make the phone call!]

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sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 12:37

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Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:40

Yes, good idea. I do need to let the dust settle so to speak. I only got the phone call asking me to come to an interview on Monday, (although obviously it was not out of the blue - I had applied for the course after all!) then interview today and instant acceptance. It is all happening too quickly.

I msned dh and he said my feelings of misgivings were normal post interview loss of adrenalin.

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sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 12:41

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OrmIrian · 17/10/2007 12:42

Excuse me while I briefly hijack please.

Could you tell me where you are doing this ddg? DH trained as a primary school teacher 10 years ago and since then has only taught 2 terms. Now doing something quite different but considering (with much encouragment from me) going back. He will need to retrain I would imagine but we weren't sure how to go about it.

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:46

A zookeeper sKerrymum?

OrmIrian, if you google the Training Development Agency (TDA) their website will tell you where your nearest course provider is. I am doing it at the University of Gloucestershire as the local education authorities round here don't offer courses, but where I lived before (Sussex) the education authority provided courses. They are free, by the way. The Govt seems desperate to get qualified teachers back!

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OrmIrian · 17/10/2007 12:49

Thanks .

We're sort of banking on a male ks2 teacher being in demand - otherwise 6 weeks off work for DH will be a very expensive waste of time.

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:50

Why did he only teach 2 terms? What did he do instead? (DG looking for alternative ideas!)

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sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 12:50

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Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:51

Oh and btw, you get a bursary while on the course (not a huge amount of money, but it would mean you were not trying to live on savings entirely).

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Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 12:52

S'OK skerrymum, I worked it out. I was only teasing cos I know dh!

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sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 13:01

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OrmIrian · 17/10/2007 13:05

OK. Thanks. That might help.

For various personal reasons DH went off the rails big time during his 4th year. He got his degree but only a 2.2 instead of a first which he had been told was more or less in the bag - ended up not getting a job at all to start with. A while later he tried 2 terms and got so stressed and miserable in his fragile state that he gave it all up. Worked in a residential home for adults with learning difficulties for a while, and then became a self-employed carpenter. Which is great in that he loves it, but it pays poorly in comparison with the hours he is out of the house and his horrendous expenses.

So care home worker or carpenter. Fancy either of those

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 13:11

Oh sorry to hear about dh.

Well, care home worker does not appeal, but I think it must be marvellous to work with your hands - wish I was capable of anything like that! I have to say, I would be tempted to leave your lovely dh right where he is. Teaching is so full on. Rather a happy husband than a bit more money.

Is it really something that has been weighing on his mind? ie does he feel he has wasted a golden opportunity? Or is it just the money side of things?

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OrmIrian · 17/10/2007 13:22

'Tis mainly the money I must admit. I've worked all the way through having 3 kids and we're still broke and it is unlikely to get any better with things as they are.

But, also the feeling that he could have been a fantastic teacher given the right circs. And 4 yrs at uni is a long time to acheive nothing. He would prefer to concentrate on special needs but I don't know if that would be possible.

Probably won't happen. But financially something has to give just now..

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 13:27

Oh dear, you do sound like something has to change. This is going to sound awful, but dh and I have financial difficulties too (hence, partly, why I applied to do this course) but I was dismayed to realise how little I would be able to earn as a teacher (part-time admittedly).

Your dh could specialise in Special Needs. I have often seen jobs advertised asking for SN teachers. His work in the care home would be very relevant to that I should think.

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Marina · 17/10/2007 13:31

dumbledoresgirl, not sure if this would suit, but I know of two teachers who have retrained successfully as Ed Psychs, with a shorter, more flexible working day, and AFAIK an interesting career. I'm afraid I don't know them well enough to know where they studied though...

OrmIrian · 17/10/2007 13:32

I appreciate that teachers don't earn a fortune compared to many, but more than DH is earning now. Minus the expenses as well. And no childcare costs in the school holidays. So all in all for us it would be better.

Came to a head last night actually. I've been asked to join an on call rota at work (in IT) which would greatly add to my stress levels when I'm already running round like a loon with 3 kids and a job . Dh was all for it because of the money. Which annoyed me a little TBH.... hence the reopening of discussions on teaching. We'll see....

Are your kids at school now? At least you wouldn't have to cover childcare costs yourself.

tasja · 17/10/2007 15:21

OrmIrian - I felt like your husband. I'm a qualified teacher but after 3 years I just gave up. Cant do it anymore!

DumbledoresGirl - hey! Have been thinking about you this morning. And how it went with the interview. Glad you got into the course!
I'll hear of my interview middle of next week. For the healthcare assistant.
I think it is just stress. Going back to work after being a SAHM. I also thought this morning "OH hell". They said I must do dayshift for a year. So I must pay for childcare! Hope I can make enough money during the week to pay for childcare aswell!

Good luck to you!

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 15:53

Tasja, nice to see you here. I wondered how your interview went. I hope you come back when you know the outcome though it sounds quite positive if they were discussing shifts with you.

I am feeling worse and worse about this whole thing. It is still early enough to be shock and fear, but I just feel so uninterested in returning to the classroom. I had a bad experience returning to work 5 years ago (job lasted all of 4 months!) and maybe that is colouring my thoughts too.

My children are all in school now, but I would still need to pay for childcare as I would need to be in school soon after 8 and wouldn't leave until at least 5. TBH, the cost of childcare is less on my mind (I will at least be earning then). It is more the thought of having to find the childcare in the first place, of being reliant on others, of not being with my children after school, getting them to clubs etc etc. Oh and the thought of doing housework in the evenings! So much hassle, for a job that gives me so much grief (sometimes).

Hmmmmmmmmm

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Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 17/10/2007 21:10

I have been meaning to get back to this thread all evening as I realised when I was bathing the children that I did not respond to your suggestion Marina. I know quite a bit about what is required to be an ed psych as my sister was once going to do that. She did a 3 year degree in psychology, a year of voluntary social work, a year of PGCE and 2 years of teaching. She only had to do one more year (a course in ed psych) to qualify as an ed psych, but she decided she liked teaching too much and stayed with it (now been teaching something like 25 years!)

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