Student responses to my revelation that I am pregnant (I teach 10th grade English)

[Anonymous]

I kept my pregnancy under wraps until now - 20 weeks- I don't think I can really hide it anymore- but many of the students were oblivious

I told them yesterday, most seemed shocked and surprised despite my 11 lb gain- a few girls said, "I knew it!"

A young man actually said, "Wait a minute, are you saying you got it in over the weekend?" (!!!!!)

The "tact" of 15 year olds....

What KILLS me though- and why I postponed telling them as long as I thought I possibly could, "That's why you have been so cranky with us."

My students are ill behaved- and when I call them out on it, they accuse me of blowing things out of proportion. I assure you my reaction is appropriate to the behavior - I have been "cranky" with such behavior - as anyone would be- when not pregnant - but now they will blow it off as- "oh she's just hormonal... we didn't actually do anything wrong." It happened with my first pregnancy-

It is so difficult to work with people who don't have fully developed brains- they are sooo irrational

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sure it can be frustrating working with teens. I have three of them myself, and I counsel college students (who are better, but still often pretty immature). Still, I hope this is just a momentary rant and not indicative of how you feel about your students and your work. As a parent I'd be dismayed to hear a teacher speaking so negatively.

[Anonymous]

Op - I'm sorry you had that experience. They're not adults as much as they want to be treated that way, or may have moments with glimmers of their future maturity. I have no advice to share, but just wanted to say best wishes for a smooth pregnancy! You must be very excited!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm sure it can be frustrating working with teens. I have three of them myself, and I counsel college students (who are better, but still often pretty immature). Still, I hope this is just a momentary rant and not indicative of how you feel about your students and your work. As a parent I'd be dismayed to hear a teacher speaking so negatively.

Your kids are probably not in my class-And probably don't speak so inappropriately to their teachers. I am not really so negative, we have lots of good days, but when they are bad, they are VERY, VERY, BAD- and they absolutely won't own up to it- And NOW they will blame my baby- poor thing-

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm sure it can be frustrating working with teens. I have three of them myself, and I counsel college students (who are better, but still often pretty immature). Still, I hope this is just a momentary rant and not indicative of how you feel about your students and your work. As a parent I'd be dismayed to hear a teacher speaking so negatively.

Your kids are probably not in my class-And probably don't speak so inappropriately to their teachers. I am not really so negative, we have lots of good days, but when they are bad, they are VERY, VERY, BAD- and they absolutely won't own up to it- And NOW they will blame my baby- poor thing-

I can empathize. It sounds like you have a hard job. Hang in there and don't let them get to you! And congrats on your pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

I have teenagers. I think you should try teaching younger kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have teenagers. I think you should try teaching younger kids.

Oh please! You have 2 maybe 3 teenagers not a classroom full of teens trying to show off for each other. Give the OP a break.

[Anonymous]

What I think is hilarious is that there are people telling the OP she shouldn't be so negative and maybe she should teach younger aged students. Are you people kidding? Or are you the parents of the ill-behaved teens of today. Probably the latter.

I continue to be amazed at the differences in behavior from when we grew up to how kids are raised now.

OP congrats! Looks like the kids will have a sub the last few weeks of school and you'll have an extra long break!

[Anonymous]

I am on my second pregnancy while working in a middle school and the comments range from sweet to hilarious to totally inappropriate. Some kids are so timid about asking me (and I am clearly very pregnant), while others reach out and try to touch my stomach every chance they get. What's really funny is that some of the adults are just as bad! I actually don't mind any of it, but it is very clear when I walk down the hall or into a classroom that not one person is looking at my face - all eyes immediately go to by midsection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kept my pregnancy under wraps until now - 20 weeks- I don't think I can really hide it anymore- but many of the students were oblivious

I told them yesterday, most seemed shocked and surprised despite my 11 lb gain- a few girls said, "I knew it!"

A young man actually said, "Wait a minute, are you saying you got it in over the weekend?" (!!!!!)

The "tact" of 15 year olds....

What KILLS me though- and why I postponed telling them as long as I thought I possibly could, "That's why you have been so cranky with us."

My students are ill behaved- and when I call them out on it, they accuse me of blowing things out of proportion. I assure you my reaction is appropriate to the behavior - I have been "cranky" with such behavior - as anyone would be- when not pregnant - but now they will blow it off as- "oh she's just hormonal... we didn't actually do anything wrong." It happened with my first pregnancy-

It is so difficult to work with people who don't have fully developed brains- they are sooo irrational

um that is not just tactless, that is completely inappropriate!

[Anonymous]

I think it's odd that she refers to a male student as a young MAN, but her female students are GIRLS. sigh. If he's a young adult, at least respect them enough to think of them as young WOMEN.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have teenagers. I think you should try teaching younger kids.

Oh please! You have 2 maybe 3 teenagers not a classroom full of teens trying to show off for each other. Give the OP a break.

Oh, please? When you've had 3 teenager pass through 10th grade, then please report back. Should come as no surprise, but some teachers are better than others for this age group (about 8th - 10th grade). Usually the younger teachers are not the better ones. But one of my teens' favorite teachers was fresh out of school. So, I suggest to OP that the younger grades may be a better fit for her.

[Anonymous]

Why say anything to them at all? Let them figure it out.

[Anonymous]

My DS is a 10th grader and I can't imagine that a pregnant teacher would be a surprise to the kids. There have been many before you. The only time he seemed a bit taken aback was when he had to wait for his guidance counselor to finish pumping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's odd that she refers to a male student as a young MAN, but her female students are GIRLS. sigh. If he's a young adult, at least respect them enough to think of them as young WOMEN.

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