Any SAHMs on leave from teaching?

weddingbells2010 · May 2011

I posted a few days ago about our big decision for me to take the entire school year off after my EDD in Oct. So excited to stay home with LO and really bond and capture every moment

Are any of you SAHMs on leave from teaching? And if so, any secondary teachers out there (I'm 7-12, currently in MS)? I'm curious to hear how it's been, transitioning from classroom to the SAHM lifestyle. I love love love teaching, but I'm definitely not opposed to taking a year off for my LO Do you miss it? Do you never want to go back? Any plans for more than one year?

In my district I can take off up to two consecutive years for each child, but I obviously lose seniority for each year I'm out and it's unpaid and without healthcare (I'm on DH's now anyway). You're also not guaranteed your current teaching position when you return- just a position in your certification area somewhere in the district. It was a big decision for us to take the one full year so I doubt we'll take the second, but some people love staying at home so much and can afford to take that second year. It's also a crazy time in our area, with lots of budgets failing and major teacher excessing, declining enrollment.... some very senior teachers in my district have been split to multiple buildings or even dropped to part time due to it all, so I can't really afford to give up more than one year on the seniority list.

What about you ladies?

Court0026 · May 2011

I had DS in October 2008 and stayed out until the end of May to retain my actual position (I am an elementary special ed teacher). I worked June, went back in September and planned to work until DD was born (June 2010), but DS did not do well in daycare. He was so sick that I was out at least once a week during that time. I knew I was going out in June anyway, so I requested leave early in January. ANYWAY, long, boring story, but I am taking a 2nd year for DD's maternity leave this coming year. I MISS work. I miss the adult-interaction, my friends, etc. Not so much the actual job, but you know. We have the same set-up as you with leave and seniority and the fact that you can change positions while you are out. I am very scared about going back. I was basically in the perfect job for me out of what we have to offer, so the chances are not amazing for me liking what I end up doing.

Vine07 · May 2011

I am on leave from teaching as well. DD was born in November '09 and I initially intended to go back in March and then I felt like I wasn't ready so I decided to take the rest of the school year off. I decided to not go back this past school year either due to financial reasons. It really didn't pay for me to have to put DD in daycare or get a nanny. I would have very little money left from my paycheck.

As far as time off; I'm assuming you teach in Long Island. I teach in the city so I get 4 years off for each child. Yes, I lose seniority and am not guaranteed a job in my current school but within the district. Honestly, with all the crap going on with teaching now I am kinda glad I am home.

I found that I love staying home and have a lot to do with her. I joined playgroups and met many SAHM's to do stuff with during the week. I also currently tutor a few kids just to make some money and also do what I love to do. It's actually worked out really nice. Maybe you could look into that also.

Good luck!

ahnichols · May 2011

So funny that you post this. Just yesterday, I took DD in to meet everyone at the school where I used to work. This is my third year not teaching. I chose to resign due to infertility issues and a growing business my husband and I started. Going in yesterday made me miss it terribly. I miss working with kids and my friends. The rest of it? NO WAY! I cannot imagine teaching full time and grading all those papers now that I have DD. I always used to think that I didn't want to waste all my patience on my students and have no patience for my own kids when I got home. I used to teach 8th grade English.

I consider raising my daughter to be the best job I've ever had. Definitely the most fulfilling. Sure, it's lonely and it has its days, but I try to remember that nothing is perfect.

Teaching is so volatile right now. I have considered trying to find something part time, but it seems like almost every district in the area is making major cuts. Luckily, I don't have to return for financial reasons. My husband keeps reminding me that there are a ton of women that raise their children and return to their professions years later.

Good luck in whatever decision you make!

mrsrobinsontobe · May 2011

i went back to work part-time when my baby boy was 8 months old. it was and still is perfect and he'll be 3 next month. i went back full-time after my daughter was born and that wasn't that bad either with just one. my principal was very flexible though -- encouraged me to come in late/leave early if i had a free period. they'd cover my classes when i needed to pump, etc...

but back to now. i feel so lucky to work pt...about 28 hours a week. if i had left completely, i'd never be hired again anywhere! with 14 yrs/m+45, i cost way too much $ for a district. and with family to take care of our children for free and a husband who works from home...i'd honestly be crazy to give it all up! retirement, investments, tenure, not to mention that i love my job as a hs english teacher.

there really is no better job to raise a family. and with working pt, now i'm able to be part of my childrens' pre-school...volunteer, switch off with my husband for drop off and pick up. it's so nice that we're both able to be part of their day-to-day lives. not many families can say that!

do i miss things once in a while? sure. but honestly, it's not all that often! i spend a ton of quality time with my kids and i have a great career that i think shows my kids that you really can have it all!

good luck!!! Smile

iteachk · May 2011

I initially took a year leave to make sure I wanted to SAH. I resigned during that year. DH and I moved to a smaller house, do not drive new cars, and do a lot of other things to make it work. I LOVED my job and miss it, but nothing compares to being at home with DD.

cooperme2871 · May 2011

I am not technically on "leave", I was laid off at the end of my intern year. I had DD in October 2009 and was laid off in June 2009. I taught second grade. I have not worked since. I do not miss it at all. We had always planned for our kids to be in daycare and us both to work fulltime, but now that DD is here I could not imagine leaving her in daycare everyday. I LOVE being a SAHM and really feel like it is what I am meant to do. Yes money can be tight, but it is well worth it. By the time I would pay daycare or someone to watch her, we would not have much left of my paycheck. I plan to stay home as long as I can and do not know if I'll go back to teaching full time when I do look for a job. There is so much bad news going on with teaching right now, and with budget cuts it might be hard to find a job. I have been hired to substitute teach though and I think it might be the perfect fit for me. I can teach when I want to, how much I want to, and not have to deal with parents/grading papers at night/writing lesson plans.

CubbyMama · May 2011

I had my first daughter in October 2006 and took the rest of that school year off. I had always said that if I could handle 34 11-year-olds, one baby would be a piece of cake...and I was wrong!

She was colicky and I was insecure about everything I did, and it was a rough first year, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

The next year, I was able to share a contract with another teacher,and I've been doing that since (I start up with my 3rd partner next year). It's amazing--the absolute perfect balance between staying at home and working. I get out of the house, see other adults, and feel like my "old self" on my work days,and on my off days I get to focus on being a mom and catching up on errands, household stuff, etc. I love it. GL!

Notwifezilla7 · May 2011

It's funny you posted this because DH & I were discussing this last night.

I taught in NNJ for almost 8 years (special ed for a few, then K then 1) in a smaller sized district. I LOVED LOVED LOVED my school and job! I felt like I was in the perfect place, had a fairly good reputation amongst parents, staff, & my peers, and actually enjoyed going to work. When I had DD1 I was on the fence about what to do. I had her April 1 and went out on leave for the remainder of the year. Right around June, we decided to take a year for leave. I found out I was PG right around the time we had to let them know if/when I would return. I decided to take another year, and then resigned. I probably could have kept my job if I went back and resubmitted for leave since it was another baby. During my leave, DH took a new job and we moved further from the district but closer to our families.

In the end, I miss it some days. I loved my school! It was only preK-2 and we really were a little family. At the end of the day, however, it just wasn't meant to be between childcare, commute, & the like.

I intend to try and get back into teaching in some manner in the future. For us, it works.

ktsnshn · May 2011

I took a year off after my maternity leave with DS, and then resigned during that year. I LOVED my school, staff, grade level, families and pretty much every thing about my job. However, to me it was just that, a job I loved. I am so happy that I made the decision to stay home full time and that I get to be with DS, and will get to spend that same time with our next child. I have days that I miss the adult interaction and the structure of having a "regular" job, but I wouldn't trade this time for anything. I hope to get back into education eventually, but not until our youngest is in school full time.

weddingbells2010 · May 2011

Thanks for all of the stories, ladies. I'm glad to hear that it will be normal to miss the job. I expect to not miss it that much once mommyhood begins, though!

norbert5 · May 2011

I went on maternity leave with DD with the intention of not coming back that year and possibly resigning if things worked out. Things worked out and I resigned. The decision was part financial and part want. When I went in to talk to my principal about returning I found out that they were freezing our pay for another year and raising our insurance premiums so I was going to be making less then I did when I had started four years earlier. DH and I really wanted one of us to be able to stay home with our kids so we took the leap and now I am a SAHM. I love it, especially now that I am in amazing mom's group. I miss teaching but I don't miss all the crap that goes with it.

I did try to do a jobshare but with money being an issue they didn't want to do it. Oh, well.

megann831 · May 2011

I had DD in March, so I was out from March- Sept. It never really felt like I was a SAHM, just enjoying my leave. I always thought I wanted to be a SAHM, and I was never bored while I was home, but now that I'm back, I couldn't imagine being home everyday. The days I do get off I have fun, but the way I have fun I couldn't afford to be home everyday. Ideally I'd like to work p/t, maybe 3 days a week, but I'm happy I'm home by 3 and have summers and frequent holidays off. The 1st day or so were rough, but you keep so busy teaching I really don't get down too often and I definitely feel thankful I got to be home for her newborn/ infant time.

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