Confused! To continue working or to SAH...

Ecy · May 2014

Hello all,

I feel stuck and conflicted and don't know what to do. I resigned from my teaching position that becomes effective at the end of this school year. This, I'm fairly happy about. It was a very hard decision but two factors played into this decision: I need a break from the traditional classroom and I have an impossible new administrator. She is downright evil in so many ways.

Here's the dilemma...when I first resigned I panicked and started applying for jobs. Since then, my DH and I have discussed the possibility for me to stay at home. It will be very tight financially. We won't be homeless or starving but will just need to adjust our spending habits. We also have a nice savings for any major emergencies. The idea of staying at home excites me. I've had health issues that I would like to get worked out, work with my very active daughter who just turned 3, learn how to cook better meals, find some inner peace again (been so miserable lately) and just get my house in order. On the other side, I really love working as well. I don't just like making my own money but also love being busy and having that sense of purpose outside of my family.

I received a call for an interview on Monday afternoon. It's for a teaching position but not for the traditional classroom. It would be at a nearby district's alternative school. The one where the "bad" kids go and I would help them manange staying on top of their elective courses. The job itself doesn't sound that exciting to me but it may be nicer because much of the workload when it comes to paperwork would be off my plate. I basically would communicate with their elective teachers from their home campuses and make sure they receive and complete work. Not real exciting but may be just what I need.

Would you take a year off if you could? I have no idea what to do and don't really know if I should bother with a 2 hour interview on Monday if I don't really want it anyway.

Amelia4 · May 2014

I would keep working if we couldn't save money without my income. Perhaps something part time would work for you?

jf198400 · May 2014

I would definitely interview, even if you decide you don't want the job. Interviewing is a hard skill, so practice is always a good thing.

It sounds like you might benefit from a PT job, but I'm not sure that it would be easy to find in teaching.

Ecy · May 2014

Good advice! I think you are all right in that it doesn't hurt to interview.

thedash · May 2014

I would definitely go to the interview. Find out more and then if you do get an offer you can always decline and SAH for a while.Or withdraw your application after finding out more details.

Ecy · May 2014

LibraryChica said:

I know education is an easier field to move in/out from, but when you look at it harshly and realistically will you find it more difficult to get a comparable job if you take a year off? And, if so, are you ok with that?

No, at least in my area, taking a year or two off would not make it more difficult to jump back in the game. They are very understanding when you tell them you wanted to take time off for family reasons, such as caring for your child.

djm31012 · May 2014

i would interview. it sounds like this job would be less stressful/a little more flexibile than a traditional classroom and might just give you the work life balance you need. cant hurt to meet with them and see what its all about-that might make the decision easier.

brachysira · May 2014

I would look at the money again. Staying at home is not very inexpensive in my case. They say that you don't have to buy clothes, but you do because other SAHMs look decent when you go out and you can't just wear sweatpants and stained t-shirts to music class or whatever. Your child may currently get enrichment through a childcare situation, but you may be paying for activities and preschool that you didn't before. They say you save on a commute, but only if your previous commute was not minimal and you aren't going out with your child. Plus, childcare is draining too--you don't have all the time to clean and deal with things that you think you will. You may end up buying more toys, etc. because your kid is home more and so needs more things to do and also because you just have more time to shop for them. Of course, even if you do not spend more once you are home, if you can't really afford the income loss, you can't quit.

That said, my brother's ex taught at an alternative high school and they had nearly 100% turn over each year. She stayed 2 years, and by the 2nd year, she has some kind of leadership position because she had been there the longest. You could not wear solid clothes because you were not supposed to appear supportive of any gang. It certainly did not sound less stressful than a regular teaching job.

Perhaps find out more about this job, but if it doesn't seem great, you might be able to afford to take off 1 year, which might help you gain perspective on the situation. You might be able to teach online, tutor, or teach as an adjunct at a community college if you just need a little income to make this more feasible.

KL777 · May 2014

It sounds like something part-time would be ideal for you.

*sparky* · May 2014

I would at least go on the interview to
Check it out. Would your teaching experience be a good background for tutoring or teaching a class at a community college? Those are just a couple of examples of PT jobs some of my friends who were formerly FT teachers have taken now that they have LOs.

FemShep · May 2014

I'd also take a hard look at how secure your husband's income is. How stable is his current employer? If something would happen to his job, how easy would it be to find other work? Do you have at least 6 months of living expenses in an emergency fund?

Maybride2 · May 2014

Of all the sahms of young children I know, one of them would claim that her house in actually in order. I thnk that you have a romanticized idea of what being a SAHM entails. That aside, it sounds like you do enjoy working outside the home, just not doing what you were doing. And without knowing the details of your finances, I would not at all be comfortable with staying home if things were going to be "tight".

GracefulStar · May 2014

I would go on the interview, you can always say no if you get it. I'd also apply to some jobs pt/ft that catch your interest. Perhaps tutoring or some school job very different from traditional teaching would make you happy? Think outside the box, you may find something you like for less hours. I don't think you will find 100 percent peace staying home but perhaps a few weeks off after this job and while interviewing will help you decide. I can never get things done when I'm home but maybe it works for you, or maybe you will enjoy it more. Good luck! Explore all your options!

skibunny59 · May 2014

Since you say you like working, I would go on the interview anyway just to see. You don't have to take the job. An alternative school sounds rough and stressful to me though.

Ecy · May 2014

I decided to interview but my district wouldn't let me off this week because it's STAAR testing. That is understandable and I figured the district that I was going to interview in would understand as well. I told them I couldn't get a substitute and asked if we could schedule it for next week or after school hours. They responded with no! The interview would take two hours and needed to be during the school day so that I could do a 30 min. practice teach with kids. They said they wanted to get initial interviews done this week but if they do 2nd rounds, they would call me. To me, it seems as if they already knew who they wanted to hire and were just following protocol for the interview/hiring process. Oh well...hopefully something even better will open up. I have several applications out there, just because I want an option. Thanks for all of your replies!

Want a personalized experience?

Confused! To continue working or to SAH...

Re: Confused! To continue working or to SAH...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards