Lately many people have asked if I enjoy being at home or if I miss teaching. So, here it goes...my thoughts on the subject.
I thoroughly enjoy every moment staying home with Wyatt, even the bad days. Sure there are days when I want to pull my hair out but the good days outnumber the bad. We have so much fun going for jogs, taking baths, playing with toys, singing songs, reading stories, meeting friends for lunch or play dates, cleaning, and taking naps. I don't know how working moms do it. They get everything done plus working full-time. Hats off to you! I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to stay home and that Jason has a great job to support this new occupation of mine.
But at the same time sometimes I wish I could escape to the classroom where my hard work is definitely noticed. I miss the kids most of all and the people I worked with. I miss being able to leave work at work. I do miss teaching in a way because I got to "goof" off and entertain to try to make the students interested in learning. I was a nut sometimes! I miss the ego boost where the students will hand you a note with a picture of a car or Hannah Montana attached telling you that you are the best teacher they have ever had. In conjunction with that I sure don't miss all of the added responsibilities of being a teacher: the late night conferences, back to school nights, curriculum nights, kids talking back or misbehaving, or the stress of AIMS!!!! Sometimes it got so difficult with everything "they"-aka the state, feds, or district- would make us do. Just one more thing to pile on us. Can't we just enjoy our job with the kids? My friend, Mr. Carillo, always said, "They give you a pile of manure and expect you to turn it into gold." (He and his sayings always cracked me up!)
Just now I started to miss teaching but then remembered how burnt out I was.
I was ready for a change!
Change I got and it is wonderful!
Well, to think about it I actually am still teaching and being a nut-just to a different crowd. It may not be circumferences, opinion essays, or the 50 states but now it is much more important.
When Wyatt giggles and squeels with delight over me playing peek-a-boo, giving him kisses, and various games then it makes it all worth it and I don't miss teaching 5th graders at all. I love teaching MY kid!
One day Wyatt will be able to say, "Mom, you are the best mom/teacher that I have ever had."
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Stay at Home Mom vs. Teacher
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4 comments:
Amen, Sistah. There have been a few times when I think back to some warm fuzzy moments in my classroom, but I quickly remember all the lame school improvement meetings, No Child Left Behind CRAP, etc. etc. and I'm SO glad I don't have to do that right now. One of my collegues used to say, "they give us newspaper and expect us to recycle aluminum". I like the manuer/gold analogy better. :)
Great post! I agree, there are moments when I miss something else, but being with the kids FAR outweighs the alternative!
That is so sweet. Maybe i should say that to my mom sometimes.
You were great at teaching. And we miss you. But you jumped at the perfect time. You are in the best place, doing the best job!
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