Going Back to Work in the Fall: Panic about transition

[Anonymous]

So, I am a teacher, and have been teaching part time this year. I have also held down various part time jobs in my field since leaving full time teaching. My youngest is in K, so it is the right time for me to return, which was always my plan. Since I am only part time, I thought I would be thinking about this until June, when current county teachers and destaffs have all been placed. Yesterday, I got an early hire contract offer, so, there is no maybe, I am going back full time next fall. This is great in that I can be hired very soon, and can apply to early job postings, so will have time to plan, but the panic has already begun to set in.

1.) Child Care: We will need Monday coverage for when the kids are out early, as well as some before and after school care. Even though I am a teacher, I will have to arrive early enough, and leave late enough that I will not be able to get my 3 off to school, or picked up in time. Seems SACC will be too pricey for 3, so I likely will hire someone? What have others with 3 done?

2) Logistics: Getting out the door, finding time to exercise, planning meals....

3) House: just holding things together. I will have to be more organized, I know. We will move our cleaning lady from 1 time a month, to every other week for sure....but, I feel our house will be a mess!!

I am excited to return full-time. I really missed the camraderie (sp?) of working in a school, in addition to teaching. Tell me this will be ok!

[Anonymous]

I have two, and we use an after-school sitter.

You'll do great. I went back to work FT about 2 months ago and all your fears are legit, but you'll manage.

My husband does the morning routine and drops the kids off at school, I do the dinner.

I exercised exactly once since I started and the house is hella messier, so I am letting some things go for now. There is an adjustment period, but it's much scarier before you start. Are you married/partnered? Get you SO on the same page WAY before you start. Like, spell it out in detail.

GL and welcome back!

[Anonymous]

Are you an Elementary school teacher? If so I would highly reccommend placing your kids at your school. I was a teacher's kid and having me go to the same school really made life easier for my mom in terms of scheduling because I could just go with her in the mornings/afternoons. Plus she knew the school community really well. Most of the teachers in her school now still pupil place their kids as well.

[Anonymous]

I am an Elementary Teacher. And yes, I can place my children with me. I struggle with this though. My oldest is entering 6th grade next year. I cannot imagine pulling him after going K-5 at the same school. Also, he is in AAP (advanced academics) and not all schools offer that. The one I am interviewing at Monday does not.

My younger two are currently in Grades K and 1 at a different school, so could easily transition. The issue is, my middle son has an IEP and our home school has very small class sizes, and a superb special ed staff. Transitions for him are awful, as are new social situations. My daughter, who is in K, I think would do fine anywhere.

I guess though, that would negate the need for before and afterschool care for any I had with me. Also, because I am a music teacher, they may end up having me as a teacher. Most schools have 2 music teachers, but I have taught them for years (taught in their preschools), and they have all struggled having mom as a teacher, just in that they seem to misbehave. The other issue is that I do not know exactly what school I will be at. My first interview is Monday, and this school is 3 miles from my home. This would be ideal obviously. If I ended up too far away, I would worry about being able to foster relationships outside of school for my children.

Some great things to think about though. My husbands job is a bit flexible, the only issue is, he coaches baseball in the Fall and Spring, and in order to leave early to do that, he really needs to get to work early. He has done the morning routine the one day I teach this year. I had sort of thought the kids would stay put, but depending where I am placed, I really might need to consider bringing them with me, at least the younger two.

I just got a great lead, and interviewed a new college sitter this afternoon. She seems great, and comes highly recommended, and is very interested in regular work. She will know more when she gets her class schedule next week. It might just all work out.

DH will be on the same page. I have hesitated about this, but we really decided that it is best for us for me to be back full time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an Elementary Teacher. And yes, I can place my children with me. I struggle with this though. My oldest is entering 6th grade next year. I cannot imagine pulling him after going K-5 at the same school. Also, he is in AAP (advanced academics) and not all schools offer that. The one I am interviewing at Monday does not.

My younger two are currently in Grades K and 1 at a different school, so could easily transition. The issue is, my middle son has an IEP and our home school has very small class sizes, and a superb special ed staff. Transitions for him are awful, as are new social situations. My daughter, who is in K, I think would do fine anywhere.

I guess though, that would negate the need for before and afterschool care for any I had with me. Also, because I am a music teacher, they may end up having me as a teacher. Most schools have 2 music teachers, but I have taught them for years (taught in their preschools), and they have all struggled having mom as a teacher, just in that they seem to misbehave. The other issue is that I do not know exactly what school I will be at. My first interview is Monday, and this school is 3 miles from my home. This would be ideal obviously. If I ended up too far away, I would worry about being able to foster relationships outside of school for my children.

Some great things to think about though. My husbands job is a bit flexible, the only issue is, he coaches baseball in the Fall and Spring, and in order to leave early to do that, he really needs to get to work early. He has done the morning routine the one day I teach this year. I had sort of thought the kids would stay put, but depending where I am placed, I really might need to consider bringing them with me, at least the younger two.

I just got a great lead, and interviewed a new college sitter this afternoon. She seems great, and comes highly recommended, and is very interested in regular work. She will know more when she gets her class schedule next week. It might just all work out.

DH will be on the same page. I have hesitated about this, but we really decided that it is best for us for me to be back full time.

Would it, though? Are your kids really patient enough to just hang out while you get your work done efficiently before and after school? What would they do during faculty meetings, parent meetings, etc.?

[Anonymous]

They are young, so you bring up a good point pp..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an Elementary Teacher. And yes, I can place my children with me. I struggle with this though. My oldest is entering 6th grade next year. I cannot imagine pulling him after going K-5 at the same school. Also, he is in AAP (advanced academics) and not all schools offer that. The one I am interviewing at Monday does not.

My younger two are currently in Grades K and 1 at a different school, so could easily transition. The issue is, my middle son has an IEP and our home school has very small class sizes, and a superb special ed staff. Transitions for him are awful, as are new social situations. My daughter, who is in K, I think would do fine anywhere.

I guess though, that would negate the need for before and afterschool care for any I had with me. Also, because I am a music teacher, they may end up having me as a teacher. Most schools have 2 music teachers, but I have taught them for years (taught in their preschools), and they have all struggled having mom as a teacher, just in that they seem to misbehave. The other issue is that I do not know exactly what school I will be at. My first interview is Monday, and this school is 3 miles from my home. This would be ideal obviously. If I ended up too far away, I would worry about being able to foster relationships outside of school for my children.

Some great things to think about though. My husbands job is a bit flexible, the only issue is, he coaches baseball in the Fall and Spring, and in order to leave early to do that, he really needs to get to work early. He has done the morning routine the one day I teach this year. I had sort of thought the kids would stay put, but depending where I am placed, I really might need to consider bringing them with me, at least the younger two.

I just got a great lead, and interviewed a new college sitter this afternoon. She seems great, and comes highly recommended, and is very interested in regular work. She will know more when she gets her class schedule next week. It might just all work out.

DH will be on the same page. I have hesitated about this, but we really decided that it is best for us for me to be back full time.

Would it, though? Are your kids really patient enough to just hang out while you get your work done efficiently before and after school? What would they do during faculty meetings, parent meetings, etc.?

PP who was a teacher's kid again. There were generally always several other teacher's kids hanging out after school too. We'd all usually hang out together in the classroom or pod, do our homework, read, and play together. My mom also frequently put me to work organizing books, centers, etc. I would of course get a little bored/antsy from time to time, but in general classrooms are designed to occupy and engage children, and there was usually plenty for me to do while I waited for my mom.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Another good point pp. My classroom would also have plenty to keep them busy. (though not quiet). They are a bit small to be outside my classroom unsupervised. I guess it would be important to find out when faculty meetings are held. At my current school, they are right before school. I would imagine in FCPS some do them on the early release Monday, when I would have to have care for my children, since teachers do not get out early.