- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Success after IF
Teachers: When/How did you tell?
My kiddos (8th graders) totally ticked me off today. ?
Ok...I'm a little pudgy around the middle and maybe it looks like I *could* be PG, but they haven't learned yet that you JUST DON'T ASK a woman EVER if she's PG. ?
I've heard some speculation from 2 classes and chose to ignore it for now because I figured I'd tell them once I hit 12 weeks and their curiosity would die down if I weren't so bloated...however, today immediately following a discussion with coworkers about how this year's class seems to be exceptionally rude and in need of a 'social skills' class..a students asks me, loudy, "Mrs. G...are you pregnant?" ?To which I replied - you never ask that question because sometimes people just get fat and that's something you need to know now and for the rest of your life - it's a very offensive question. ?To which she tried to backpedal and say she wasn't asking because I've gained weight - and when I asked her why else she'd ask anyone that question she, of course, had no reply.
Then next class, a student came in saying that another student stated *as fact that* I am PG. ?
I'm not so angry they are curious, but angry at their lack of tact. ?Of course, it doesn't help that I'm gassy, constipated, and exhausted so my patience is a tad thin.
WWYD if you were me? ?Tell them early? ?I'm definitely going to reiterate my disappointment in how they handled the situation and speculated about something that is inappropriate - but when??
?
Thanks! ?And sorry this ended up so long - I was SO ticked off by the end of today.?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Teachers: When/How did you tell?
Don't have any experience with this aspect but I teach 7th grade and totally know what you mean. I told my kiddos today I was having surgery next week and they said, "Hope you don't die." They can be such sh!ts sometimes.
I would wait a few more weeks to tell but when you do tell, I would let them know how rude it is to ask/talk about someone like that.
GL with whatever you decide.
Oh I could not agree more! ?My good friend's brother was killed in a car accident earlier this year, and the kids were so crappy when she returned. ?They would be like..."Heard your brother died." etc. ?I have no idea what I'm going to do. ?It'd be easier to hide probably if I were having a singleton and if I had freaking hips - but my uterus (and the babies) have nowhere to go but OUTWARD. ??
I didn't want to tell my work until I was 12 wks too but I'm thinking that we might show sooner then normal b/c we have twins. ?I'm running out of clothes to wear to work. ?I wear loose pants and long sleeve shirts to cover my sea bands for my terrible m/s. ?
?Anyway, I don't know if you should address your kids on Monday about there lack of tact b/c it might draw more attention to you and your belly. ?When you decide to tell then say that you want to take this opportunity to share with them a few examples of tactfulness. ?
I don't think you should tell until you feel ready. ?Once you say it you can't take it back. ?My mom just got plane tickets to visit me in April but if she knew I was pg she probably would not have come out until the babies were born. ?But, I wasn't willing to tell her because I didn't feel comfortable. If we lose a baby or both I need my DH to comfort me and we will get through it together. ?My mom can always save up more $ to come out again after the births. ?Your kids will hopefully move onto a new topic of gossip pretty soon. ?Just let roll off of your shoulders for now if you aren't ready knowing that you will teach them a lesson in etiquette by the 12 wk. ?This is just IMO so do what is right for you and I'm sorry you are dealing with this stress. ?I'm having a hard time dealing with things b/c of my high levels of hormones!
Sorry so long! ?By the way, do you have any tips on helping m/s? ?Mine is pretty bad!?
I actually had DH buy me some crystallized ginger (found it in the bulk section of one of our "Whole Foods" like stores). ?So far, that has been the most helpful. ?It's kind of intense and I have actually gagged on it - but it does seem to help.
Good luck!?
The only thing that helped my nausea was drinking ginger tea--I made it from chopped up ginger root steeped in boiling water for a few minutes....you could then strain it but I just drank around the little chunks. I usually took some honey in mine. I know you can get ginger tea powder at asian markets but this wasn't difficult at all and tastes good to boot!
Feel better!!
Hi-
I also teach 8th grade......but when I was PG with DS, I was teaching 6th graders. I didn't really show until I was 12 weeks. I held out until I was 15 weeks. I wore a shirt that said "My Belly Rocks" and waited until someone noticed. I *think* around 3rd hour someone noticed and said something....it was funny. My kids were really cute about it.....
I don't think it would have been the same experience with 8th graders. My 6th graders were much more innocent and into babies/little kids. I can't imagine my 8th graders being that excited.
Honestly, I wouldn't waste your time "lecturing" them on their tact. In their defense, they are too immature to understand that whole issue......especially with pregnancy. Go for it if you want.....but I personally think it will just stir the pot. I wouldn't say anything until you are ready. If kids are flat out asking you, I would say, "that's a personal question that's for me to decide...." or something like that. And, then when you are ready you can share the news!
GL!
I am not a teacher but work as a counsleor in high schools and I did not tell my clients until I was 18 weeks. I was not hiding it but they never asked, but I could tell they wanted to.
I think middle schoolers just do not have censors yet, do not take offense they are just not at that stage yet to think before you speak.
Crystalized ginger was great, yucky but did help me out with nausea
I teach college, so it may not apply, but I told them after my 19 week u/s. I really was still not showing much at that point so I think some of them may have suspected but weren't sure.
I wouldn't tell your kids any sooner than you had planned to. Let them speculate, but tell them when you feel comfortable. And good for you for telling them that's a rude question to ask. I got asked, by high school kids, about 9 years ago when I was student teaching and just bloated and wearing an incredibly unflattering dress, and I think it scarred me for life.
I also teach middle schoolers, health to boot, and noticed thier ridiculous lack of a scensors to what is right and wrong to ask. I would just ignore thier comments. I know you are sensistive to what they are saying because they have NO tact, but if you make an issue out of it they will "know". I had one kid for WEEKS that swore I was pg and was telling everyone. When people came to me and asked I was just say "you know, X, he is a little crazy" they agreed with me, laughed and walked off. Weeks later when I finally said something (when I was showing "In the Womb" and they were at the part in the PG that I was- 16weeks) they were ALL shocked. I did have one girl say "I was just talking with so and so yesterday about how we thought you were really putting on some belly"....nice...nice..
No matter what you do, you will NEVER teach a middle schooler to have a mental screening of what they want to say! I had a boy ask me yesterday "Ms. you are pregnant, right?" and I told him I was, but what would he do if I siad "nope, just fat?" He responded saying he would have felt REALLY bad...but they just dont see that coming!