They made one of the team mates a 12 month employee and gave the other one the 10 month contract and now I am stuck with the 11 month. I will probably never get the 10 month with my kids. I want to quit.

OP here - brief update. I haven't heard back yet about getting the 10 month contract but apparently out of the two other staff members in my department who are 11 month, 1 has changed her mind from wanting to go from an 11 month to 12 month and now wants a 10 month

She will probably get it too because she has been there longer but what's so frustrating is she has literally heard me talk for 1.5 years about wanting to have more time with my kids and that my goal is to transition to a 10 month contract, especially while my kids are young and I advocated for myself last year too.....when it was mentioned with these other 2 staff members last year NEITHER were remotely interested. I get why she wants it; to spend more time with her aging mom but at the same time it's frustrating that she can decide snap second after advocating for something totally different for years and most likely I will be the one to suffer.

I'm so bummed. I'm 90% sure the opportunity is gone for me. I doubt there will be another opportunity unless someone leaves for YEARS and by that time, so much precious time with my kids will be gone

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! Fingers crossed this is offered to me. You are correct, there's no way I would regret having extra time with my children and also time off for myself.....

I work incredibly hard and my passion and advocacy is extremely needed, especially now but caring for myself and my family is ALSO needed, particularly if I want to stay in the field for a long time.

I'm envisioning relaxing at the pool with my kids, going hiking together, visiting family, and I also dream of renting an apartment abroad for a month. I've seen some incredible deals where you can rent a simple apartment in a beautiful spot for under $1,000 a month and then food is often very affordable, depending on where it is, even MORE affordable than locally. Finger's crossed!

This sounds wonderful, OP. Crossing my fingers for you

Anonymous wrote:Yes! even without kids, the option to have summer off is amazing!
you have until 68 to work.

Lol that's what I was thinking! I would take that amount of pay cut just to have the time off!

Thanks everyone! Fingers crossed this is offered to me. You are correct, there's no way I would regret having extra time with my children and also time off for myself.....

I work incredibly hard and my passion and advocacy is extremely needed, especially now but caring for myself and my family is ALSO needed, particularly if I want to stay in the field for a long time.

I'm envisioning relaxing at the pool with my kids, going hiking together, visiting family, and I also dream of renting an apartment abroad for a month. I've seen some incredible deals where you can rent a simple apartment in a beautiful spot for under $1,000 a month and then food is often very affordable, depending on where it is, even MORE affordable than locally. Finger's crossed!

Yes, I would give up a very large chunk of my paycheck to have summers off, or work a very reduced schedule.

But we have enough money now that it wouldn’t impact our lifestyle. When the kids were younger and in daycare it wouldn’t have been possible.

Oh my gosh absolutely do this. Your kids will be grown and flown before you know it, there is (virtually) zero chance you will regret doing this when you can

I almost did precisely that and had dreams if getting a once month rental with my kids in another country every summer. I ended up not doing that because my kids have several medical issues that require regular doctors’ visits snd I couldn’t make it work as a teacher.

Do it. Take a month long national park trip each year your kids have the pass. Live in another country for a month every summer.

Anonymous wrote:My kids love camp, so no, I wouldn't.

You mean you love to send your kids to camp.