I have managed to avoid talking about my job search the duration of this class, but I figured what better time to discuss the issue than my last blog. So here is the gist.
In short...it has been pretty nonexistent. Why? I cannot seem to figure out how to balance being a mother and being a teacher. During student teaching, I really struggled with being away from my daughter (now 19 months old) and having her in the arms of daycare or a nanny so many hours of the day. With her being so young, I felt that I was missing valuable time that I would never get back. And I absolutely hated experiencing second-hand all of the firsts that happen during this age. I think I cried 90 percent of the days I had to leave her while I was student teaching (I think I cried the other 10 percent because I was so stressed and sleep deprived). I know a lot of people, if not the majority of people now-a-days, use childcare in order to continue their career, or out of need to support their family, but I want to be the one that raises my child and to be the one that experiences all of the special moments.
Another added layer of complexity, my husband has been traveling 4 or 5 days a week for the past 10 months (the last 4 months of which included me student teaching, us selling our condo in Chicago, living and commuting from Wisconsin for 5 weeks, and then buying and moving into a new house in the suburbs). At the moment, it is uncertain whether my husband will have to continue to travel for work. With him being gone so much, I have struggled to handle all of the house and parenting workload on my own, let alone the school workload, and I cannot find the justification to look for a job. Not only is my husband away from my daughter often, how can I be gone all of the time too?
But how do I abandon my career until my daughter starts going to school (or longer since we hope to have another child)? If I do not do anything pertaining to teaching for several years, how will I ever be a competitive candidate for a teaching position?
I have found myself in a position where I think it is best for me and my family if I search for a local, part-time tutoring position, whether it be through a school or private institution, in order to at least keep my skills and resume current. So here my search begins! Hopefully I can find something to fit the bill.
If anyone has any advice or words of wisdom on being a parent and educator, I would love to hear it. And I hope everyone else is finding what they have been searching for. Best of luck with your own job search!
Stacey,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a lot going on! There are so many factors at play here, and any one of them would be a lot all on its own. Transitions are never easy, but you're right that there are some additional obligations here that don't really allow you to think of your teaching career as its own separate issue in your life.
But as I was reading this, I ended up coming to the same conclusion that you did. When I read the line about not doing anything pertaining to teaching and still being competitive later, my first thought was that there are several things that pertain to teaching that may not be as demanding on your time. I think it makes a lot of sense for you to be looking at other ways to be involved in teaching and education.
I am not a mother myself, so I don't have a ton of advice in that department. But it sounds like you have thought a lot about this and that you are taking steps toward what will hopefully serve as a pretty good compromise.
Best of luck!
'Tine
Stacey,
ReplyDeleteYour post really struck me. I wish I had some good advice to you, but I'm not married, and I'm not a mom. I also haven't done much in the job search department, but that's because I decided I wanted to take this time to travel abroad - I'm teaching English in Jaen, Spain next year.
I thought of you one day during student teaching, after reading one of your posts for our online class. You said something about sleeping 3 hours a night. I remembered you had a baby at home, and it made me think, "If I'm hardly sleeping and getting through this, what would it be like to do this with a baby?"
Stacey, I give you so much credit for your hard work, and I am sorry you had to make these sacrifices to finish our program. I think your plan sounds great - you can find ways to stay current and stay active in the teaching profession part-time, until your daughter is old enough for you to start working on your own. I worked with a lot of moms at my school in Northbrook who aided part-time while their children were young, and then started looking for teaching jobs once their children were older. Maybe this is an option for you? I know a lot of the suburban schools hire part-time aides (although I think this might be more common in elementary and middle schools).
Good luck Stacey! I'm glad I was able to get to know you in our last few classes. Take care!
Anna
Stacy,
ReplyDeleteIt has been nice getting to know you during student teaching and T&L611. You are facing touch life choices. I believe that work should serve your family, not take away from it. You're a bright, caring, and energetic woman. Everything will work out great for you. I wish you all the best!
Steve